“40,000 votes?” Phillips repeats, slightly stunned, as Rice surprises him with a BT-sponsored gold brick, recognition from England fans for a superb Euro 2020 campaign.
Had the proud Scotsman in David Moyes not prevented him from engaging in any such poll, it would surely have been 40,001.
Moyes had the Rice-Phillips partnership in mind when he made a club-record £50million bid to sign the latter from Leeds in January 2022, though his admiration by then was long-lived, the midfielder already on his radar by the time he returned for a second stint as West Ham boss late in 2019.
It has taken more than four years, a complete midfield revamp, the £105m sale of Rice and, for Phillips, a marked career downturn, but at last, Moyes has his man.
The 28-year-old today completed his switch from Manchester City on loan until the end of the season. It had been expected that the deal would include an option-to-buy, but that has been shelved for now after the clubs failed to agree terms.
Denne historien er fra January 26, 2024-utgaven av Evening Standard.
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Denne historien er fra January 26, 2024-utgaven av Evening Standard.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Why are England wasting time waiting for Tuchel?
Winning the World Cup is the aim, so the new boss should start now
He's been shot, and punched by Mike Tyson, but British boxing's great survivor is back on top and aiming to rule the world
This is where the magic happens,\" reads a big neon sign scrawled across the entrance to the offices of arguably the most powerful man in British boxing today.
How Sketch went from 'obscene' to era-defining
After arocky start, the glamorous and infamous restaurant is now an institution
Money is worth less than time'
He's quit Fendi, but what will Kim Jones do next?
London's Roman Amphitheatre
Guildhall Yard, EC2V
Liberals didn't notice they'd lost relevance in the all-consuming digital sphere
There are many reasons why Donald Trump might have won the election last week.
Do we have to die?
One neuroscientist thinks the answer is no
How to have a magical Christmas in Edinburgh
From cosy cobblestone streets to abundant Yuletide goings-on, few cities rival the Scottish capital in creating Christmas whimsy.
London's best festive restaurants
The social season is upon us once more. These are the city’s most coveted Christmas venues, which need to be booked soon so as to not miss out on the tinsel and tipples.
Rag'n'Bone Man
I struggle with being recognised... I'll never really feel comfortable with it'
