Kalvin Phillips' Premier League exit could solve two transfer problems for Man City

The signals aren't good for Kalvin Phillips. A rare start in the Champions League and a first Manchester City goal could have been the spark he needed to turn his fortunes around, but three days later he was back to his familiar matchday role as an unused substitute.

City dropped points against Palace, and Pep Guardiola turned to teenager Rico Lewis to partner Rodri out of position. Lewis took his chance, playing further up than Phillips would admittedly, by adding a goal to his midweek assist.

After Guardiola said he couldn't imagine Phillips in his system, he struggled to prove his manager wrong in Belgrade in the Champions League, despite his confident penalty. His muted celebration against Red Star suggested he knew that wouldn't be enough to put the brakes on any momentum taking him towards a January exit.

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Step forward, Juventus, who have been strongly linked with Phillips for a number of weeks, with fresh reports suggesting talks have opened between the Italian giants and City.

Newcastle have been linked, but Eddie Howe has distanced his side from the England international despite their need for a holding midfielder amid Sandro Tonali's ban. But if Phillips moved to a Premier League rival, it would pose City a potential issue by strengthening a rival when they have little room for manouvre in the title race.

While City remain focussed on the title, if they were to give Newcastle an extra advantage, it could potentially have an adverse effect on their own chances. They currently sit fourth, and could be sixth by the time they next