CITY TARGET £50M PHILLIPS AS FERNANDINHO REPLACEMENT

to do their transfer business early this summer and steal a march on their rivals.

City boss Pep Guardiola has identified Phillips as the ideal replacement for Brazilian midfielder Fernandinho, who is leaving at the end of this season after nine years.

With Ilkay Gundogan also potentially on his way this summer, Guardiola is looking to possibly recruit two midfielders – with Phillips now a viable target. City have identified a central midfielder as one of the positions they must address this summer and have ruled out a move for West Ham’s Declan Rice, who would cost in excess of £100m.

But Guardiola and sporting director Txiki Begiristain believe Rice’s England midfield partner Phillips (right) could prove to be the ideal player for them. City have sent scouts to watch him several times this season, with the 26-year-old certain to be available if Leeds are relegated on Sunday.

Aston Villa and West Ham had bids rejected in January’s transfer window but remain keen to land Phillips should he decide to quit his hometown club. Manchester United have also been keeping close tabs on Phillips, yet he has made it clear to those close to him there is no way he could join United, given the bitter rivalry between them and Leeds. Phillips is understood to be reluctant to leave his boyhood club, but knows he will have little choice – for the good of his career – should Leeds go down.

He would more than triple his wages, currently £38,000 a week, elsewhere and those who know him say he would relish the chance to work under Guardiola and play in the Champions League.

Real Madrid and Paris SaintGermain have also enquired about him, but Phillips’ preference is to remain in the Premier League.