Gabby Agbonlahor has backed Newcastle United to sign Kalvin Phillips and Aaron Ramsdale in January. Reports have suggested the Magpies will approach Phillips following Sandro Tonali’s suspension.
Losing their marquee summer arrival has left a hole in the engine room, with Newcastle having just five first-team midfielders competing for three positions. Combine that with the inflated fixture list and it becomes easy to assess why the treatment table has been busy in recent weeks.
Manchester City outcast Phillips has barely featured under Pep Guardiola and is rumoured to be seeking game time elsewhere. One of the most sought-after midfielders just 18 months ago, the 27-year-old’s career has stalled since leaving Leeds United.
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The only game Phillips has started for City this season is their 1-0 defeat to Newcastle in the Carabao Cup two months ago. Former Aston Villa striker Agbonlahor believes a Toon switch would “make sense” for all parties.
“I think Newcastle will look at Kalvin Phillips,” he told talkSPORT. “(Ruben) Neves would be amazing for them, a top player, but I do think Phillips would make sense. Man City don’t really want him.”
Agbonlahor also suggested Newcastle could replace Nick Pope between the sticks this winter. The goalkeeper has barely put a foot wrong since joining last year but question marks remain about his distribution.
Arsenal goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale has been frozen out by Mikel Arteta, with David Raya’s arrival stoking up tension in North London. The Gunners keeper, who played every game as Arsenal mounted a title charge last season, is being tipped as a potential Newcastle target.
“All the eyes are going to be on him (Ramsdale),” Agbonlahor added. “He knows he hasn’t played for so long and this is his chance to shine. There’s a lot of pressure on Ramsdale but he has to go (elsewhere) in January.
“Arteta has made it clear. I’m saying Newcastle or Chelsea. Pope is a top shot stopper but can’t play with his feet. How long are Newcastle going to continue to play (like that)? Every Premier League club now has a keeper who can play out from the back - and Pope can’t.”
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