Newcastle target Kalvin Phillips ‘to replace Sandro Tonali’ once ban confirmed

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Newcastle United are reportedly exploring a January move for Manchester City midfielder Kalvin Phillips. The Magpies are at risk of being caught short in the middle of the park, with summer signing Sandro Tonali expected to be slapped with a lengthy ban after admitting to illegal betting activity.

Tonali was Newcastle’s marquee signing of the summer, arriving from AC Milan in a blockbuster £55million deal. The 23-year-old scored against Aston Villa on his Premier League debut, and he had been a regular starter under Eddie Howe before the international break.

His future was plunged into doubt, however, when he was named in an Italian football betting probe last week. Tonali’s international team-mate, Nicolo Fagioli, has just been hit with a seven-month ban for placing illegal bets.

The Newcastle man is yet to face his punishment, but after admitting to gambling on matches he was involved in, the maximum punishment available to authorities is a three-year ban.

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According to The Telegraph, Howe and co are already scouring the market for options to take his place in central midfield, and City star Phillips is a name under consideration.

The 27-year-old has hardly played since signing from Leeds United last summer. And prospects of fighting his way into Pep Guardiola’s long-term starting XI were dealt a massive blow over the past few weeks, when Phillips continued to be overlooked despite Rodri’s suspension.

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Newcastle will reportedly face competition from Juventus for Phillips, with the Turin giants also forced into the market by the betting probe. Fagioli, 22, had made six Serie A appearances for Juve this term before the ban saw him sidelined.

It remains to be seen whether City sanction a loan exit or push for a permanent solution. Phillips wanted to stay and fight for his place when speculation swirled during the summer transfer window, but a recent acknowledgement of his situation and how it could impact Gareth Southgate’s Euro 2024 squad suggests that the former Leeds United star may have changed his mind.

“I know that I need to be playing games and competing every weekend,” he said. “I’m going to have to make a decision on my City future over the next few months. Hopefully my chance comes, but if it doesn’t then I will have to make other decisions.

“As a football player you always want to be playing. I want to be playing as much as possible, but I haven’t done that for a year and a half. I always try to make sure I am ready for whatever comes. I want minutes, I want to go to the Euros. We will see what happens.”

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