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PHIL THE GAP
Man City make Kalvin Phillips No1 target to replace Fernandinho ahead of summer transfer battle with Man Utd
LEEDS cult hero Kalvin Phillips is reportedly Manchester City's No1 midfield target as they look to replace Fernandinho.
The 37-year-old will depart the Etihad in the summer as a free agent after nine years of service and head back to his native Brazil.
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It has been claimed that Fernandinho will seal an emotional return to Atletico Paranaense - the club he started his professional career at.
Attention has now turned to who City will bring in to replace the club legend, with Phillips understood to be a target.
In a boost for the Citizens, it is has been stated that the England international, 26, will snub a move to Old Trafford due to Leeds' heated rivalry with Manchester United.
According to the , City have made signing Phillips their top priority after landing Borussia Dortmund marksman Erling Haaland.
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The Premier League champions believe that the Whites ace fits the profile of their current squad.
And have stated that City are poised to turn their interest into a formal offer.
They claim that Guardiola was keen to bring in West Ham's Declan Rice, but were put off by their whopping £150million price tag.
Monaco's Aurelien Tchouameni was also eyed up, but Real Madrid look to be in pole position to secure his services.
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Phillips, who featured in 20 Premier League games in an injury-hit season, still has two years left to run on his deal at Elland Road.
But it is likely he will be on the move in the summer, with Arsenal, Aston Villa and West Ham all also keeping tabs on the player.
England's Player of the Year for 2021 helped his beloved Leeds avoid relegation on the final game of the campaign.
He started in the 2-1 win away at Brentford on Sunday as Jack Harrison scored a dramatic 94th minute winner.
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