After Gomes: Wolves Pushing to Sign £160,000-a-Week Star in Deadline Day Loan Deal

As the 2026 January transfer window enters its final hours, Wolverhampton Wanderers are once again at the centre of intense transfer speculation and activity. After securing a loan move for Angel Gomes from Olympique Marseille, the West Midlands club are reportedly pushing to bring in another high-profile midfielder before the window slams shut. According to multiple transfer sources, Wolves have rekindled their interest in Kalvin Phillips, the experienced England international currently on the books at Manchester City a player reportedly earning around £160,000 per week as a potential last-gasp loan signing to bolster their squad amid a difficult season.

Wolves’ Winter Window So Far: From Gomes to Deadline Day Hustle

The backdrop to this latest flurry of activity is Wolves’ ongoing attempt to strengthen a squad that has struggled for consistency and results this season. With the team still fighting a relegation battle in the Premier League, manager Rob Edwards and sporting director Matt Hobbs have been working hard to bring in reinforcements.

First up this month was the acquisition of Angel Gomes on loan from Marseille. According to transfer insider Fabrizio Romano, Wolves reached an agreement with the French side to bring the 25-year-old midfielder to Molineux until the end of the season, with a modest initial loan fee of around €1 million and an option to make the transfer permanent for approximately €7 million. Gomes’ arrival adds creativity and technical ability to the squad’s midfield options something the club has lacked at times this season.

But Wolves’ ambition hasn’t stopped there.

Target: Kalvin Phillips A £160,000-a-Week Option

As the deadline draws nearer, reports suggest Wolves are lining up a move for Kalvin Phillips, the England international now on the fringes at Manchester City. The midfielder moved to City in 2022 for a reported fee of around £42m, signing a long-term contract with the champions. However, his time in Manchester has been hampered by limited game time, injury issues, and loan spells away from the Etihad.

Why Phillips?

Phillips brings Premier League experience, international pedigree and a robust defensive midfield profile qualities that Wolves believe could help steady a team struggling to maintain control in the centre of the park. Given Wolves’ current league position and their need for physicality and experience in midfield, a loan deal for Phillips makes strategic sense on paper.

According to transfer reports, Wolves are exploring the possibility of a loan with Manchester City willing to accept offers in the region of £10 million despite the challenge posed by Phillips’ substantial wages, which are understood to be around £160,000 per week.

The Wage Factor: A Potential Hurdle

One of the biggest sticking points in a move for Phillips is his salary. At roughly £160,000 per week, he ranks among the better-paid players in the City squad and that level of pay is not insignificant for a club like Wolves, especially one conscious of Financial Fair Play rules and budget constraints.

This wage figure is similar to what Phillips has reportedly been earning at City and reflects both his status as an established Premier League and England international, and the long-term contract he signed upon his move from Leeds.

For Wolves to make the move work, they would likely need Manchester City to subsidise part of the wages or structure the deal in a way that makes the economics feasible a common strategy on deadline days when clubs are under pressure to get deals over the line.

Phillips’ Career: From Leeds to Manchester and Beyond

To understand the context of this potential move, it’s worth looking at Phillips’ journey over the last few years.

Leeds United: Phillips rose to prominence at Leeds, becoming one of the Premier League’s most combative and respected midfielders before earning a big-money switch to Manchester City.
Manchester City: Since joining City, Phillips has struggled to establish himself as a regular starter under Pep Guardiola, making limited appearances and going out on loan spells at West Ham United and Ipswich Town in pursuit of first-team football.
Loan Movements: His loans reflect a player still eager to prove his worth and regain momentum in his career and a move to Wolves could be seen as another step in that process.

Where Wolves Stand in the Premier League

Wolves’ desire to bring in experience like Phillips is rooted in their precarious league position. Despite some positive signs under Rob Edwards, Wolves have been embroiled in a battle to climb out of the bottom part of the Premier League table. Bringing in seasoned players with top-flight experience is a clear priority as the club fights to avoid relegation.

In addition to the Gomes and Phillips rumours, Wolves have also been linked with other strategic moves as they reshuffle their squad in the January window including possible departures (like defender Emmanuel Agbadou’s prospective move to Beşiktaş).

What This Means for Wolves’ Midfield Dynamics

If Wolves succeed in landing Phillips, it could signal a shift in how they approach midfield balance:

Defensive Solidity: Phillips’ composure, positional awareness, and defensive discipline could help Wolves protect their back line and win more second balls in matches.
Experience Under Pressure: His experience in high-pressure games, both in the Premier League and international football for England, would be valuable in relegation battles where composure can be the difference between survival and drop.
Mentorship for Younger Players: Younger midfield talents at Wolves could benefit from training and playing alongside an established professional of Phillips’ calibre.

The Deadline Day Rollercoaster

Deadline day is often frantic, and Wolves are no strangers to late drama in the transfer market. Whether they can land a figure like Kalvin Phillips with all the financial and tactical implications that entails remains to be seen. But the fact that Wolves are actively pushing for such a deal highlights their clear intent: strengthen quickly, think smartly, and give themselves every possible chance of staying in the Premier League.

Looking Beyond Today

Whether or not the Phillips deal is completed, Wolves’ transfer approach this window underscores a club trying to balance immediate survival with longer-term squad building. Moves like Angel Gomes demonstrate ambition and creativity, while reported interest in a player of Phillips’ stature shows a willingness to swing big when needed.

As the transfer window edges toward its final moments, all eyes will be on Molineux and whether Wolves can pull off one last deadline day surprise.