If Eddie Howe can help Kalvin Phillips rediscover the form that secured the midfielder a big-money move to Manchester City then a loan deal for the 27-year-old would be a 'no-brainer' for Newcastle United but there are concerns over how much he would buy into the project on Tyneside.
The transfer team at Newcastle are weighing up their next move following the arrival of Sandro Tonali and are believed to be targeting Phillips who moved to Man City last summer from Leeds United for £42m. It is understood that a loan deal is the preferred option as United look to shop cleverly ahead of their first Champions League campaign in 20 years.
The club's interest was reported last month but any move was seemingly shut down quickly by Phillips' side with the England international determined to stay and fight for his place in Pepe Guardiola's side. However, given Manchester Club's pursuit of Arsenal-bound Declan Rice, and the signing of Mateo Kovacic, there is a belief that Phillips will struggle for first-team football.
READ MORE: Newcastle United keen to avoid Allan Saint-Maximin 'saga'
JOIN NOW: Get transfer news to your phone with the Newcastle United WhatsApp community
Any deal for Phillips is likely to come late in the transfer window as he takes every opportunity to try and secure a first-team spot at Man City, and speaking on The Monday Show of The Everything is Black and White Podcast, host Andrew Musgrove, questions whether that very fact means Phillips would be fully committed to a move.
"My one concern with a loan deal is how much he would buy into the project. I worry about Kalvin Phillips because I think if Newcastle sign him on loan he comes here with the plan of impressing but going back to City next season - and I'm not sure Newcastle United would want that.
"You want a player who comes and buys 100% into the project - can you do that if you're here for just one season? From conversations I've had, he's not going to be guaranteed first football at City - so if he goes knocking on Pep Guardiola's door, he's not going to get the guarantees he's looking for.
"I think there's a mindset that actually it would be a good deal for Manchester City because Guardiola can make a more educated judgment on Phillips having seen him play for a good side."
Phillips's debut season at The Eithad was rocked by injury and he only made three Premier League appearances, totaling 39 minutes as City won the title, the FA Cup, and the Champions League. Despite his lack of game time, Phillips remains a central part of Gareth Southgate's England squad.
There is hope he has overcome the injury problems of last season - and if he has, Chronicle Live's Newcastle United Editor Aaron Stokes, believes a deal would make sense but feels United would be clever with the agreement.
"There's a way to structure these deals nowadays where it's very rare that top clubs sort a loan deal out unless there's sort of some obligation or option to buy at the end.
"Based on Dan Ashworth's record at Brighton, they were so against loading players in unless they had that option, and I can't see Newcastle United going out and trying to loan players this summer and not sticking one of those clauses in.
"With Phillips, it's very, very hard to see how he signs for Newcastle after coming out two weeks ago and saying 'I really, really want to fight for my future at Man City,' but I suppose if Pep says, 'well, I don't want you.' then that's maybe the only way that [he comes].
"[Him staying fit] is a big if. It's a good move for the player but it's a gamble for Newcastle United. However, if you get the Kalvin Phillips that was as Leeds, it's an absolute no-brainer.."
The Everything is Black and White Podcast is an award-winning Newcastle United show with more than 100K downloads every single month. You can listen to the show by clicking here.
