Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola hopes that Kalvin Phillips will 'get the minutes he deserves' at West Ham United as the midfielder nears a loan move to the London Stadium.
Phillips was signed by the Citizens for around £42m from boyhood club Leeds United in July 2022, but the 28-year-old has failed to establish himself as a first-team regular under Guardiola.
The midfielder has only started five of his 31 appearances for Man City in all competitions, including just two starts in 10 outings so far this season.
Phillips still has four-and-a-half years remaining on his contract at the Etihad Stadium, but Guardiola admitted towards the end of last year that he "struggled to see" the Yorkshireman in his first-team plans, triggering speculation over a January exit.
A host of clubs in England and abroad have been credited with an interest in Phillips, but West Ham appear to have won the race for his signature, as the England international is in London to undergo a medical ahead of finalising an initial six-month loan deal.
An announcement from both clubs is thought to be imminent and Guardiola has wished Phillips well ahead of his temporary switch to the Hammers.
"It still is not done. He travelled yesterday for a medical test, but it is not completely done," Guardiola said at a press conference on Thursday ahead of Friday's FA Cup fourth-round tie against Tottenham Hotspur.
"He is probably going to be on loan for six months and hopefully he play the minutes he deserves that I couldn't give him."
Guardiola added: "It is what it is. I've said it many times, he is an exceptional human being, and a football player, otherwise he wouldn't be in the national team. Hopefully he can prove what he really is."
Asked if he has any regrets regarding his treatment of Phillips, Guardiola said "Yes of course. If I give him 10-15 games in a row he will play good but I did not give him that. I have players in the squad and decide we are looking for different things.
"I can only say how grateful I am for his behaviour off the pitch and hopefully he can get the minutes and next season we will see what happens. I wish him all the best for short time in London."
Commenting on whether Man City - who announced the signing of Claudio Echeverri from River Plate on Thursday - are likely to recruit a replacement for Phillips before the January transfer window closes, Guardiola said: "I don't think so."
Phillips will be hoping to reignite his career and gain regular first-team football under West Ham boss David Moyes, as the midfielder seeks to secure his spot in Gareth Southgate's England squad for Euro 2024.
The 31-cap England international is set to battle with Edson Alvarez, Tomas Soucek and James Ward-Prowse for regular starts with the Hammers, who sit sixth in the Premier League and have progressed to the last 16 of the Europa League. body check tags ::
