Ipswich Town players Sammie Szmodics and Jack Taylor have never shied away from sharing their views on the wider football world, and the news surrounding Kalvin Phillips’ situation at Manchester City sparked plenty of reaction from the Portman Road dressing room. The England midfielder, once hailed as one of the Premier League’s best holding players, has endured a frustrating spell under Pep Guardiola. Reports that City are now open to letting him leave in January took the footballing world by surprise – and Szmodics and Taylor were quick to weigh in.
The Ipswich duo, who have both been crucial in Kieran McKenna’s midfield rotation, spoke candidly after training when asked about the Phillips story. Szmodics, who thrives as an attacking midfielder, said he felt “genuinely shocked” that a player of Phillips’ calibre has been on the fringes for so long. “You’re talking about someone who was the heartbeat of Leeds United, who went toe-to-toe with some of the best in the Euros for England,” he said. “To see him not getting minutes at City – it’s mad. For me, if he becomes available, half the Premier League will be after him.”
Jack Taylor echoed the sentiment but took a slightly different angle, pointing to the challenge of breaking into Guardiola’s ultra-competitive midfield. “It just shows you how high the level is at City,” Taylor said. “Rodri is arguably the best defensive midfielder in the world right now, and they’ve got depth everywhere. It’s tough for anyone, even a top England international, to get a run of games. I don’t think it’s about quality with Phillips – it’s just timing and fit.”
Both players also reflected on what a potential Phillips move could mean for the league as a whole. Szmodics, who has faced Phillips in the Championship before, suggested that the 28-year-old could be the missing piece for a number of clubs fighting for European places. “You put him into a side like Newcastle, West Ham, even Villa, and he changes them,” Szmodics insisted. “He’s got that grit but also the range of passing to set the tempo.”
Taylor took a more personal perspective, admitting that watching situations like Phillips’ fuels his own motivation. “It reminds you that football can be brutal,” he said. “Even the best players can find themselves out of favour. It makes me appreciate every game I get to play here and pushes me to keep improving. You never want to be in a position where you’re just training and not playing.”
For Ipswich fans, the pair’s comments offered an interesting window into how Championship players view the Premier League’s elite environment. Phillips’ potential exit from City could be one of the headline stories of the next transfer window, and it’s clear that players up and down the divisions are watching closely. Whether he stays and fights for his place or seeks a fresh start elsewhere, Sammie Szmodics and Jack Taylor’s reactions underline just how highly respected Kalvin Phillips remains among his fellow professionals.
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