'Yet to progress': Journalist says Newcastle have yet to make a move for 'formidable' midfielder

Another day another twist in the Kalvin Phillips to Newcastle United story.

With the January transfer window edging ever closer, the rumour mill is spinning up to max speed with Newcastle's link to Manchester City outcast Kalvin Phillips throwing up a new slant each day.

Recently the 28-year-old, described as 'formidable' by City's Director of Football Txiki Begiristain, had been linked with a move to Juventus only for the story to then change to Phillips wanting to stay in the Premier League. The latest on that being that Phillips now wants to move to Juventus over Newcastle.

No approach has been made by Newcastle as yet

There have been reports that the move to Newcastle is all done and dusted and it's just a case of waiting for the window to open. Now David Ornstein of The Athletic has put his own spin on things.

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Ornstein was looking at the potential business Newcastle may do in January and his piece threw up no surprises or real insight, but one thing he said about Phillips did stand out.

"The need for a midfielder amid Sandro Tonali’s ban could also be allayed by the rise of Lewis Miley. If Newcastle do elect to address that area, Phillips is an option and Conor Gallagher remains of interest.

"Regarding those two examples, Newcastle have yet to progress on a potential loan for Phillips while Chelsea would only contemplate selling Gallagher — and at a price reflecting his elevated status — that suitors might not be keen on (or capable of) doing in the forthcoming window."

Would Newcastle even see the best of Phillips this season?

It now looks as though that talk of the deal already being in place is well wide of the mark, and the fact that Newcastle have yet to make a move suggests that Phillips is not as big of a priority as other outlets seem to think he is.

There's no doubt that Newcastle needs a holding midfielder, but whether that turns out to be Kalvin Phillps, we're yet to be convinced. We know he has the talent, but how long is it going to take for him to get up to speed? Look at how far off the pace Anthony Gordon was when he arrived last January, and he'd been playing regularly.

If we do opt for a loan deal, chances are we'll never see the best of him before he returns to Manchester City.