With 10 wins, 4 draws and 3 losses in 17 league games, Manchester City ranks fifth in the Premier League with 34 points, and it is worth noting that they are 8 points away from Liverpool with 2 games less and 6 points from Arsenal with 1 game less.
Pep Guardiola's side have lost their dominance compared to previous seasons, partly due to the rapid rise of other Premier League teams such as Arsenal, Newcastle and Aston VillaThe second is that the competitiveness has declined due to some bad decisions made within the club.
Kevin De Bruyne's injury has deprived City of the passing sword that can be used to make strong conversations, and without the support of midfield, it will be a bit difficult for Haaland to score. Rodri has been without a substitute for two seasons, Phillips, who was brought in last summer, has the ability but cannot adapt to the tactics, and none of the Rice and Paqueta that Guardiola wants this summer have been realized.
The perception of Phillips has always been good, and he has proven himself at Leeds United, while also holding the England international position with Rice very well. But his style of play is wide open, and at the same time, the soles of his feet are rough and easy to lose the ball, so it is easy to be isolated from the system by other teammates, and it is indeed not suitable for Manchester City, which is more demanding, and Guardiola has completely given up on him.
Manchester City are hoping to get him a good deal in the winter window, but there is a long way to go based on the attitude of the players and the demands of buyers. Juventus are hoping to agree a loan deal, with their midfield centres Paul Pogba and Fagioli unable to play due to off-field incidents.
But they also have financial difficulties and have made unreasonable demands on Manchester City to bear 70% of Phillips' salary. Another reason for the Brubra's tough attitude is also due to the fact that coach Allegri prefers Hojbjerg, as confirmed by Sky Sports Italia and renowned Italian journalist Longo.
Compared with Phillips, Hojbjerg is more comprehensive, with forward insertion and organisational skills, stronger physical resistance to injuries, lower wages, and much higher cost performance. Therefore, Manchester City may need to reverse the salary of 2.73 million pounds and need to reach an agreement with Juventus as soon as possible. The player himself was hesitant about a move to Italy in the early days, and according to a number of team reporters, including The Athletic UK, Phillips has figured out that he is willing to join the Old Woman. A number of Premier League clubs are also interested in Phillips, but Pep Guardiola doesn't want to give him to their league rivals.