Man City move gives Hammers a boost

 (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)

West Ham received a small boost when the latest piece of transfer window business was agreed earlier this afternoon.

For it saw Leeds United defensive midfielder Kalvin Phillips move from Leeds United to the title holders for what is reported as a £42 million fee possibly rising to £45 million.

And it surely means that in signing the England international defensive midfielder, Pep Guardiola has ruled himself out of going for Declan Rice at some stage.

Phillips will arrive as a replacement for 37 year old Fernandinho after Leeds – and presumably the player – snubbed a £55 million bid from the Hammers in the winter window.

David Moyes had attempted to sign Phillips as a defensive midfield partner to Declan after Man City had regularly often been named as possible buyers of Rice.

But this now almost certainly rules them out and represents another confirmation hat the Irons skipper will remain at the London Stadium for the new season.

And it a[[ears to reduce the list of possible destinations to just two – Man United and Chelsea.