Everton target Kalvin Phillips on loan - but Man City would prefer permanent move for outcast - with midfielder hoping to get back on track after Euro 2024 snub and difficult West Ham loan spell

Everton are exploring a loan move for Manchester City midfielder Kalvin Phillips.

The 28-year old was left out of Gareth Southgate's European Championship squad after a disappointing spell on loan at West Ham and is eager to get his career back on track.

City would prefer to sell Phillips but Everton's financial limitations and ongoing takeover mean they are unsure what budget they will have available.

With Amadou Onana expected to be sold to help boost that budget Everton manager Sean Dyche is keen to find a midfield presence and the added bonus of Premier League experience.

Everton held an interest in January, but their relegation battle meant they were down the pecking order as West Ham fended off competition from the likes of Newcastle United.

Leeds United, Phillips's former club, wanted to bring him back to Elland Road this summer but their play off promotion failure has put paid to that.

After impressing for them in two Premier League campaigns, Phillips moved to Man City for an initial £42million back in the summer of 2022 when Leeds were relegated.

However, the 28-year-old struggled to adapt at the Etihad, making just two Premier League starts across 18 months with the club. 

Phillips moved to West Ham on loan in January in an attempt to get back to his best, but flattered to deceive at the London Stadium.

Despite covering Phillips' salary and paying a hefty loan fee, the midfielder played just 10 times in all competitions for the Hammers and made several errors.

They subsequently failed to take up the option to make his move permanent at the end of the season.

His lack of form similarly meant there was no place for Phillips in England's Euro 2024 squad, with the midfielder originally dropped by Southgate for the last set of international fixtures in March despite being a regular since his debut in 2020.

Speaking at the time, Southgate said: 'I think he [Phillips] knows exactly what we think of him. I think we’ve show that support.

'A good version of him is a good player for us. That’s why we’ve supported him like we have.

'We don’t have many players of that profile. Unfortunately, his form hasn’t been good enough. He has all the attributes to force his way back in, and we’re very keen for him to do that.'

Southgate added: 'I told him if he had continued not to play at City, that was going to be a problem.'