West Ham Online

West Ham United is delighted to confirm the signing of England midfielder Kalvin Phillips on loan until the end of the 2023/24 season. The 28-year-old joins the Hammers from Manchester City and could make his debut in Thursday’s Premier League fixture with AFC Bournemouth at London Stadium.

"Zico - I think you are probably right, there."

"I am hopeful that a bit like JWP, and Lingard (I wasn't in favour of either) this could work out. It seems that where Alvarez is very much a defensive holding midfielder (who often plays CB for Mexico), Phillips is more likely to drive forward and when he was at Leeds had one of the highest percentage of accurate long passes. In terms of making an overall stronger squad this is a good move. Still would like to see a Haarland type up front...."

Moyes will be looking for soucek to carry phillips on his shoulders for extra aerial threat

"""I can't fathom us paying another club to get one of their players fit to sell to someone else. Makes us absolute mugs."" People said exactly the same about Lingard, but that actually turned out to be a bargain for us. In fact it turned out even better than if we had actually signed him, given how we had him at his best and he then lost it completely."

Phillips is a quality signing but........like Alvarez he picks up a few bookings! Certainly a combative midfield if it comes off!

"It may mean that JWP will play further forward and NOT as a holding midfielder, but then again Moyes is a tactical genius so who knows where he will play but one thing is for sure Soucek plays whoever we sign."

"If Phillips, JWP and Alvarez are all fit they should play ahead of Soucek. If he plays Soucek when all the other three are fit he is an idiot."

"I should clarify- that's if it's just a loan which it seems like the player is interested in. If it's loan and then we buy, that does change things in a positive fashion. I can't fathom us paying another club to get one of their players fit to sell to someone else. Makes us absolute mugs"

"""but this is a good signing, especially if it means Soucek won't play."" he moved a much better player than Phillips out wide to accommodate the big donkey. it will be jwp or alvarez making way"

"I cannot see the logic in this. yes a good player of that there is no doubt but I'm struggling to see how he fits in, in the one place we are relatively well stocked. Either he takes significant time away from another permanent player before likely fucking off somewhere else in the summer leaving us with a pissed off player, or he rides the bench and is a big fat waste of money. Hopefully there's sensible, proper rotation between him and the other three and we can keep a fresh midfield. But why can't we sign someone in an area where we genuinely need it?"

"I cannot see the logic in this. yes a good player of that there is no doubt but I'm struggling to see how he fits in, in the one place we are relatively well stocked. Either he takes significant time away from another permanent player before likely fucking off somewhere else in the summer leaving us with a pissed off player, or he rides the bench and is a big fat waste of money. Hopefully there's sensible, proper rotation between him and the other three and we can keep a fresh midfield. But why can't we sign someone in an area where we genuinely need it?"

North bank 6:54 Exactly how I see it.

HOPEFULLY THIS WILL BRING AN END TO ALL THIS NONSENSE CRITICISING SOUTHGATE FOR PICKING HIM Seems obvious he should replace that Arsenal midfielder as first choice at the Euros

"Kalvin Phillips is an exciting signing and it will be interesting to see where he fits into the midfield Hopefully alongside Alvarez with JWP pushed further forward, which could leave Soucek playing odd man out"

What’s he like without the ball?

"mallard, yes. He played in a few Champs League games but it doesn't matter. Clubs can register 3 new players for the round of 16 onwards and they can have played in European comps for a different club prior to that."

Is he eligible for our Europa games?

"Alvarez is the only proper holding midfielder that we have. Obviously LW and striker are higher priorities but this is a good signing, especially if it means Soucek won't play. Philips has played about as much this season as Ben Johnson, and a hell of a lot more than Lingard had when he joined us on loan. It's not like he's been out injured for 18 months. He'll be fine."

Can he play up front?

"great news. another holding player, but this time one that hasn't played first team football for eighteen months. ¬£10m or whatever the fuck they're charging us, well spent ?üòÇ"