Manchester City were cited among a list of suitors for Declan Rice by Sky Sports in December and Paul Robinson gave his opinion to Football Insider whether Pep Guardiola would swap Rodri out for the 24-year-old, but a move for the West Ham United midfielder looks unlikely as Kalvin Phillips is on the books.
City paid £44.1m to sign the 27-year-old from Leeds United last summer, but he’s had a forgettable debut season at the Etihad Stadium and has been linked with a departure. There have been suggestions of Guardiola upgrading Phillips by giving him to West Ham in exchange for Rice, so Vital Man City have looked up their 2021/22 statistics to see whether it would be a good move.
Rice made 2.2 tackles per game to Phillips’ 2.7, made 1.8 interceptions per game to Phillips’ 1.2, made 0.8 fouls per game to Phillips’ 1.7, made 1.4 clearances per game to Phillips’ 0.9, was dribbled past 0.9 times per game to Phillips’ 1.7, made 0.6 blocks per game to Phillips’ 0.5, had a hand in five goals to Phillips’ 1, created 0.7 chances per game to Phillips’ 0.5, made 1.4 successful dribbles to Phillips’ 0.4, was dispossessed 0.6 times per game to Phillips’ 0.8, had 0.7 unsupported touches per game to Phillips’ 1.6, completed 59.8 passes per game to Phillips’ 47.4, and he completed 91.6% of his passes to Phillips’ 82%.
Rice trumps Phillips from last season, but it’s highly unlikely City will sell or loan the 27-year-old out to another club so they can bring him in.
In other news, pundit theory on Jack Grealish has merit as stats reveal reason behind struggles
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