Everton: Jack Harrison reacts as Kalvin Phillips seals loan transfer to West Ham United

Everton loanee Jack Harrison sent a message to Kalvin Phillips after his confirmed transfer to West Ham from Manchester City on Friday.

The Hammers confirmed the signing (26 January) of the Everton-linked midfielder (Ben Jacobs, 17 January) on a temporary loan deal until the end of the season.

The 28-year-old leaves the Etihad, almost two years on from his departure from Leeds, due to his limited minutes under Pep Guardiola this season.

The Toffees approached Manchester City for Phillips’ transfer earlier this month with the Premier League champions open to a potential move to Goodison Park but West Ham won the race for his signature.

Taking to his Instagram account on Friday (26 January), Phillips sent a message to the Irons fans after his confirmed transfer to East London.

He wrote: “Delighted to sign for West Ham for the remainder of the season. Can’t wait to get started!”

And former Leeds teammate Harrison shared an message with the number 11 and a couple of emojis congratulating him on his new move.

Could have joined him

The deal is a major coup for West Ham United given Phillips’ quality and experience both at club and international level, and a transfer that certainly makes a statement to the rest of the Premier League.

Everton could well have been on the receiving end of such a major transfer deal but it was clear in the end that they were not in a position to take on Phillips’ hefty wages and the loan fee Manchester City would have desired.

Everton’s loss is West Ham’s gain and Phillips could well have been a tremendous addition to Dyche’s regime at Goodison Park especially with the ongoing absence of Idrissa Gueye at the heart of the Toffees midfield.

Amadou Onana represents an excellent option in defensive midfield but it is clear his best work is done in the number eight positions rather than the deepest midfield area and that is an area Dyche will have desperately wanted further quality.

It is also a deal Harrison would have wanted too, rekindling his partnership with a former teammate for which they tasted glory and history at Leeds United when they sealed promotion to the Premier League.

However, Harrison will certainly have been sympathetic to Phillips’ situation at City and championed at any move he may have made that betters his career and West Ham seems the perfect next step for him, even if it is temporary.

In other Everton news, the Toffees are now ready for a bid for a Goodison Park star as a vulnerability and Dyche stance emerges.