West Ham supporters will recall the club’s failed attempt to sign Phillips while he was still at Leeds.
The Elland Road club turned down West Ham’s approaches before selling the England midfielder to Manchester City for £10 million less.
Moyes even claimed that West Ham had outbid Manchester City for Phillips, as published by The Daily Mail at the time.
A West Ham board insider acknowledged the club’s interest in re-signing Phillips from Manchester City this summer.
Despite a disastrous first season at the Etihad, in which Pep Guardiola labeled him “overweight,” Phillips remained at the club.
Instead, Moyes signed James Ward-Prowse and Edson Alvarez as Rice’s replacements.
Man City had been connected with Rice, maybe as Guardiola’s strongest indication to Phillips that he was surplus to requirements.
They also made an unwelcome bid for Hammers ace Lucas Paqueta, which fell through after betting suspicions were leveled against the Brazilian.
Guardiola: ‘No, I want to stay,’ he said.
Guardiola, the manager of Manchester City, has now made a major transfer revelation that will both shock and relieve West Ham fans before of their encounter.
The Spaniard, who has returned to West Ham’s dugout following a back operation, has stated he informed Phillips he could quit in the summer due to interest from the Hammers and abroad.
“We discussed with him and the club the possibility of him going on loan because he didn’t have a lot of minutes, but he decided ‘no, I want to stay.'” “He is more than welcome,” Guardiola remarked, according to MEN.
“I don’t know what will happen (in the future), but this good performance is important for him and for me.” He has room to grow because the dynamics he came from were very opposite.
“He stayed with us, and with the players we have on the squad who are now injured, it is important that he is ready.”
Phillips would have meant no Alvarez or Ward-Prowse for West Ham, which is unthinkable.
Guardiola’s statement is startling, especially given that he has done little to indicate that he wants Phillips to stay long-term.
And especially because he has stated that he does not want any more of his midfielders to leave.
However, West Ham fans will be relieved that Phillips did not wish to leave.
Because if the Hammers had signed Phillips, neither Alvarez nor Ward-Prowse would have been West Ham players.
That doesn’t bear thinking about after the start they’ve both made with that man Paqueta.
Despite his lack of game time, Phillips was controversially selected for England ahead of Ward-Prowse.
