Liverpool are on the verge of offloading fringe player Nat Phillips to Leeds United, according to reports. Shifting the centre-back off the books will be a high priority for manager Jurgen Klopp and sporting director Jorg Schmadtke, while the Reds’ summer transfer kitty may also be boosted as a result.
Phillips made 20 appearances for Liverpool in 2020/21 – a campaign which saw Klopp’s back-line ravaged by injuries. In the past two years, the defender has only made eight appearances for the Reds across all competitions.
Having collected dust on the peripheries last term and spent the previous campaign on loan at Bournemouth, it is now clear that Phillips won’t make the grade at Anfield. According to TV Dello Sport, Leeds are interested in bringing him to the Championship.
Not only that, but talks are believed to be ‘advanced’ between the two clubs regarding a deal that would net Liverpool a healthy £10million.
Leeds are reportedly putting together the final details as they look to replace Max Wober, who has joined Borussia Monchengladbach on loan for the season. Phillips, 26, would bring valuable top-flight experience to Daniel Farke’s dressing room.
Shifting the centre-back would undoubtedly come as a boost for Klopp, providing he can use the funds to make further squad improvements before the window shuts on September 1.
Fabinho, Jordan Henderson, Naby Keita, James Milner, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Arthur Melo have all left the club since the transfer window opened. Klopp is due to oversee one more pre-season friendly, against Darmstadt, before competitive action gets underway.
Liverpool’s first game of the season is against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, with the Blues hoping to start quickly under new manager Mauricio Pochettino.