McCoist tells £45m player to leave his club and join Tottenham

Ally McCoist has now been having his say on a player who Tottenham Hotspur could now target before the January transfer window ends.

Spurs have enjoyed an excellent start to this month, Ange Postecoglou will surely be delighted with how diligently the club have worked in the transfer market.

Timo Werner and Radu Dragusin have both arrived, players who have already made their debuts.

And with Hugo Lloris and Eric Dier now departed, it seems there is an opportunity for another addition.

Perhaps Spurs have actually reduced their wage bill so far this month despite improving their squad.

And with plenty of January remaining, senior figures at the club now want to pursue a deal for Manchester City’s Kalvin Phillips.

The England midfielder simply isn’t playing football at City, and Ally McCoist thinks his position has been made very clear.

Speaking on talkSPORT this morning, McCoist thought the Tottenham target needed to leave in January if he wanted to secure a spot in this summer’s England squad.

Ally McCoist urges Tottenham target Kalvin Phillips to leave Man City in January

Airing his concerns, McCoist said: “I just think the boy has got to get away and play.

“I mean, we’ve spoken about it before in terms of the Euros coming up. I know Gareth’s [Southgate] very, very loyal and he sticks with Harry Maguire for example.

“It doesn’t mean you necessarily won’t be in the squad if you’re not playing. The goalkeeper issue is a different one.

“Pep Guardiola has made it abundantly obvious, as obvious as I’ve ever seen any coach or manager say, wee man, you’re not in my plans.”

Of course, a move to a club like Spurs does look like it would make a lot of sense for Phillips this month.

McCoist is right to say that £45m Phillips needs to leave Man City in January, and Tottenham now boast such an exciting project.

Perhaps a move may depend on Spurs shifting the likes of Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg or perhaps Oliver Skipp.

But there’s no doubt that Phillips would be a big upgrade on both, a player who could solve several positions for Postecoglou.

And the arrival of the England midfielder this month really would be a huge statement.

That being said, one pundit thinks Spurs have a ‘secret little diamond’ ready to shine in their squad already.