West Ham is nearing a significant achievement by securing a loan deal for Manchester City’s Kalvin Phillips until the end of the season, marking a major win for David Moyes.

Phillips is poised to depart the treble-winning Manchester City as he seeks regular playing time in preparation for England’s European Championship campaign this summer. Notably, several clubs, including Newcastle, Barcelona, and Juventus, had expressed interest in acquiring his services.

The ongoing discussions between West Ham and Manchester City are characterized by the Hammers’ reluctance to pay a substantial loan fee, with City reportedly demanding as much as £7 million for the three-and-a-half month switch. However, a compromise is anticipated, especially as Phillips is amenable to the move, and West Ham is increasingly optimistic about reaching an agreement within the week.

West Ham’s admiration for Phillips has been longstanding, with a previous unsuccessful £50 million bid for the midfielder in January 2022. Moyes, eager to recreate Phillips’ England partnership with Declan Rice, had considered the 28-year-old as a replacement for Rice after his departure to Arsenal last summer. However, Phillips was hesitant to depart from Etihad at that time.

Despite his continued presence in England squads when fit, Phillips has yet to start a Premier League game this season. Gareth Southgate, the Three Lions boss, emphasized the significance of regular playing time for his players, underlining Phillips’ importance to the national team and expressing concerns about his lack of minutes on the pitch.

Moyes, who fortified his midfield with the signings of Edson Alvarez and James Ward-Prowse following Rice’s departure, finds himself facing a shortage in numbers, as evidenced by the need to deploy full-back Ben Johnson in the midfield position during a recent match. Additionally, the absence of cover for Alvarez has been apparent, with West Ham earning just one point from the three league matches he missed.

In another positive development, Mohammed Kudus is expected to return from the Africa Cup of Nations, potentially alleviating the need for another wide-forward. Accordingly, Phillips has emerged as the priority target for West Ham, while the potential departure of Said Benrahma and the commendable performances of Ben Johnson are also notable aspects in the club’s considerations.