The Magpies’ recruiting staff has made signing a new central midfielder their top goal for January, with Phillips listed as their favorite candidate.
While formal conversations have yet to take place, Manchester City officials are well aware of Newcastle’s interest, with Pep Guardiola prepared to loan Phillips out for the remainder of the season.
Phillips is going to join a club that offers him regular first-team action for the rest of the season, with the absence of Sandro Tonali indicating that Newcastle has a vacuum in their roster that he may cover.
However, Juventus has indicated their desire to make a loan bid, allowing Phillips to transfer to Turin next month.The Italian club is presently second in Serie A, four points behind champions Inter Milan, and are desperate to strengthen once the transfer market reopens to boost their title bid.
Juventus, like Newcastle, cannot assure European football in the second half of the season, but a move to Italy would allow Phillips to immerse himself in a different footballing culture and perhaps further his career.
One disadvantage of such a decision would be Southgate’s apparent disdain for Italian football, with neither Fikayo Tomori nor Ruben Loftus-Cheek able to win a regular spot in the England squad since joining AC Milan.Phillips, on the other hand, is expected to meet with Southgate about his future and would have guarantees regarding the impact on his England ambitions before agreeing to a transfer to Italy.
Newcastle officials will try to persuade the former Leeds United midfielder and his representatives that a move to St James’ Park would be the best way to restart his career after a difficult season and a half in Manchester, with Guardiola having confirmed that he would not prevent any of his players from joining another top-half Premier League club if it was the best thing for all involved.
