BREAKING NEWS: Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola stated that Kalvin Phillips will need to depart from our club as we do not wish for him to remain, following the defeat to Celtic.

After Manchester City’s 4-3 preseason loss to Celtic, manager Pep Guardiola commented on Kalvin Phillips’ future at the club. The match, part of City’s tour in the United States, saw them trailing 3-1 at halftime with goals from Celtic’s Nicolas Kuhn (who scored twice) and Kyogo Furuhashi.

City’s Oscar Bobb, Maximo Perrone, and Erling Haaland found the net to level the score, but substitute Luis Palma scored the decisive goal for Celtic.

While preseason results are generally of less consequence, Guardiola likely felt some dissatisfaction with the performance. Kalvin Phillips, who participated in the game, has been a topic of discussion regarding his future at the club.

Many believe Phillips might leave City this summer, following an unremarkable loan spell at West Ham United, where he struggled to regain his form and confidence.

Recently, Phillips has been linked with potential loan moves to Everton and Fulham. Despite these rumors, he played against Celtic, and Guardiola addressed his situation after the match. Guardiola noted that Phillips had been training well and played a decent first half, though he was not given extra minutes as he was recovering from an injury.

Guardiola admitted uncertainty about Phillips’ future, stating, “We’ll see; like in other cases, I’m not sure what will happen. He understands the circumstances, and we’ll see.”

Phillips’ performance against Celtic did little to solidify his position at City, as the Manchester Evening News described him as being “yards off the play” at times, potentially worsening his situation. Given this display, it’s doubtful that Phillips will remain with the club for the 2024/25 season.

In contrast, Guardiola recently confirmed that Kevin De Bruyne would stay at City, but he was less definitive about Phillips, which suggests a departure could be on the horizon.

Ultimately, Phillips’ future at Manchester City appears uncertain and will depend on the club’s ability to negotiate an agreeable deal. The situation remains fluid, and while nothing is confirmed, it seems increasingly likely that Phillips may move on from City before the new season.