Roy Hodgson has admitted Crystal Palace could promise Kalvin Phillips “regular game time” if a loan deal could be struck with Manchester City this month — and lauded chairman Steve Parish’s financial responsibility.
With Nottingham Forest and Everton both having been charged with allegedly overspending, Hodgson praised Parish for keeping Palace in safe waters with regards to their spending.
Palace are yet to make any permanent or loan signings this month, but they are one of a number of clubs linked with a loan move for Phillips. Pep Guardiola has admitted the midfielder is not in his long-term plans, while the player is desperate for game time with Euro 2024 with England on the horizon.
“He’s a good player,” Hodgson said. “I would like to think that if Kalvin Phillips is available and a possibility for the club — once again, there will be financial restrictions, who knows whether the club feels they will be able to afford that — if you’re talking about the level of player, I don’t feel there will be many managers who would not say: ‘Yeah, we will be really happy to have him come to the club.’
“As far as I’m concerned, it’s a name that’s out there. All we know, like most other clubs, is that there is a possibility that Man City will either sell him or loan him.
“If they are purely going to sell him, then I don’t think we will be in the market. If they’re going to loan him, I would like to think that we could possibly put our hand up and push ourselves forward.
“What we could then of course offer is the chance to play regular football in the Premiership, in the build-up to what will be a very important summer for England and for him.”
Hodgson added: “We might not be the only club in that position, so at the end of the day, a lot will have to happen before we find out where Kalvin Phillips is going to end up if he’s going to go anywhere.”
Asked about Genk right-back Daniel Munoz and Arsenal’s Eddie Nketiah — also both linked with Palace — Hodgson did not discuss their situations but described both as a “good player.”
Addressing Parish’s transfer spending policy, Hodgson said: “I think the club has been very well managed in the six years I’ve been closely involved with it. There’s only been one real spell of spending when a new investor [John Textor] came in, and that money was spent extremely wisely.
“In the last transfer window, I thought the club was very sensible in what they did. They were very happy with the players they brought in.
“I am 100 per cent behind what Steve Parish and Crystal Palace Football Club do.”
