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Wright-Phillips attracting attention

Pa
Tuesday 26 August 2008 11:05 BST
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Manchester City and Everton are weighing up whether to bid for out-of-favour Chelsea winger Shaun Wright-Phillips.

The England international has failed to hold down a regular place under three different managers at Stamford Bridge and has now been told his first-team chances are limited under current boss Luiz Felipe Scolari.

Although Wright-Phillips has always stressed his preference to stay with Chelsea, at 26 he realises his chances of fulfilling his potential - and forcing his way back into the England reckoning - require him to move on.

In theory, a move back to City, where Wright-Phillips first made his name before a £21m transfer to Chelsea, would be ideal.

However, Wright-Phillips is known to have reservations about rejoining the Blues, where he came through their highly-rated academy system.

Former City manager Sven-Goran Eriksson failed in an attempt to get Wright-Phillips back to Eastlands on loan last summer but now it seems the Swede's replacement Mark Hughes is ready to try again.

However, Everton are also interested, with David Moyes realising he needs to bolster his squad if the Toffeemen are to stand any chance of matching last term's fifth-placed finish.

Everton can offer a guaranteed place in Europe, something City are unable to do at present given they will start the away leg of their Uefa Cup qualifier with FC Midtjylland one goal down on Thursday.

If City can scrape through, it may just swing the deal, which is rated as a better chance of being completed than one for Craig Bellamy, which has also been mooted.

Bellamy has twice worked with Hughes, at Blackburn and, before that, with Wales and the former Manchester United star is one of the few managers who seems to be capable of building a relationship with the tempestuous forward.

But, contrary to reports, West Ham manager Alan Curbishley has insisted Bellamy remains with the Upton Park outfit, while City sources have indicated that while the 29-year-old is on a lengthy Hughes wish-list, he is not thought to be near the top.

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