Manchester city FLOP Kalvin Phillips has left West Ham this morning to join shocking Premier League Rivals after his Loan Spell was over this summer

Everton is considering a calculated gamble by acquiring Kalvin Phillips on loan from Manchester City. But is this the right move for a player whose performance seems to be in decline?

Frank Lampard’s appointment as Everton manager occurred on the penultimate day of the 2022 winter transfer window. This period was marked by a regrettable decision involving another English midfielder, Dele Alli. Because Lampard had already secured Donny van de Beek on loan from Manchester United, and Everton had exhausted their domestic loan quota three days prior by signing Anwar El Ghazi from Aston Villa, they had to sign Dele Alli on a permanent basis. Notably, El Ghazi’s contribution was minimal, featuring for just 11 minutes across two brief substitute appearances against Leeds United and Manchester City.

Football fans know Daniel Levy, the chairman of Tottenham Hotspur, as a notoriously tough negotiator. In a notable deal later that year, Levy met Bill Kenwright, his Everton counterpart, at Scott’s, an upscale seafood restaurant in Mayfair. They initially agreed on a price for Richarlison, only for Levy to later attempt to reduce his offer. He did permit Everton to sign Dele Alli on an initial free transfer, but with numerous appearance-related fees and other clauses that could have escalated the final cost to around £40 million. Unfortunately, the player once recognized by the CIES Football Observatory as the world’s most valuable midfielder struggled to recapture his previous form.

An interview with Gary Neville released in July of the previous year revealed many off-field challenges Dele Alli had faced both as a child and an adult. Following this, Alli did not play at all this season, further compounded by injury troubles. Everton announced before their season-ending match that Alli would stay with them to undergo an intensive rehabilitation program for a long-term groin injury, despite his contract expiring at the end of the month.

Kalvin Phillips, at 28 years old, is the same age as Dele Alli. If Everton were to secure him on a short-term loan, it would allow the club to evaluate his performance before committing to a permanent transfer. Kevin Thelwell, Everton’s director of football, has emphasized the importance of smart transactions both within and outside the club to maintain a sustainable football model. Acquiring Phillips on loan from Manchester City could be a cost-effective strategy for Everton.