Even the Premier League thinks Kalvin Phillips leaving Man City for West Ham is the perfect match after the move was confirmed.
Kalvin Phillips and West Ham are perfect for each other after he joined the Hammers on loan from Manchester City this weekend.
But don’t take our word for it, that’s what the Premier League itself believes.
West Ham were delighted to officially confirm the signing of England midfielder Phillips on loan from Man City on Friday.
And that’s understandable given Hammers boss David Moyes has chased Phillips for two years, dating back to his time at Leeds United.
Did Hammers need midfielder?
But West Ham’s £50m offer to sign him back then was rejected and he joined Manchester City for £5m less a few months later – as confirmed by Moyes himself since.
Some fans and pundits do not believe West Ham need Phillips and had bigger priorities in other positions.
The Hammers already have the brilliant Edson Alvarez, James Ward-Prowse Tomas Soucek and Lucas Paqueta – whose natural position is a more central one.
There has also been stinging criticism of the move from some journalists.
But even the Premier League thinks Phillips leaving Man City for West Ham is the perfect match.
Even the Premier League thinks Phillips move is perfect
The Premier League’s official website has produced an in-depth feature on Phillips’ move from the champions to top six challengers West Ham.
And the league’s own site believes Phillips will be much better off out of Man City and could be the missing piece in West Ham’s post Declan Rice midfield rebuild.
“West Ham are having a very, very good season – and are only a player or two away from it being an unforgettable one,” the report states.
“David Moyes’ side are five points behind Tottenham Hotspur in the potential fifth UEFA Champions League spot and have qualified for the last 16 of the UEFA Europa League, far exceeding expectations for a team supposedly weakened by Declan Rice’s departure and the demands of a Thursday-Sunday schedule.
“Arguably all that West Ham need to challenge for those Champions League places is a Rice replacement, someone with the defensive clout and distribution to pull the strings from the base of midfield.
“Phillips has endured a tough 18 months at Manchester City since his move from Leeds United. The 28-year-old has played only 380 Premier League minutes – 7.7 per cent of those available – and started just two matches.
“He needs a reset, particularly with UEFA Euro 2024 looming large, and West Ham need a Rice-like figure who can also fill in for Edson Alvarez.
“Every which way you look at it, this is a perfect transfer.”
The Premier League’s interesting and in-depth analysis also highlights the following as key reasons why Phillips is better off at – and perfect for – West Ham:
- Phillips’ defensive work is Rice-esque
- West Ham and Soucek need help in midfield
- Phillips’ distribution perfect for Moyes’ counters
- That he has superior long passing statistics to Ward-Prowse and Lucas Paqueta
- Although he reportedly struggled to play with his back to goal under pressure at the beginning of Man City moves, at West Ham the play will almost always be in front of him
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