Liverpool reportedly offer up Nat Phillips bargain

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Liverpool are ready to sanction a transfer for Nat Phillips, according to reports. The supposed deal would be a bargain for any buyer.

The Standard believes West Ham United want Nat Phillips. Long-term injuries for the Hammers have them wanting a new defender and Phillips is an attainable target.

The 24-year-old barely plays for Liverpool, sitting in place as a fifth-choice centre-back. With Virgil van Dijk, Joel Matip, Ibrahima Konate and Joe Gomez all ahead of him, it’s hard to see how Phillips gets games.

In fact, it was hard to see that back in pre-season and sure enough, he’s hardly played. Phillips has started just one senior game this season – the dead-rubber against AC Milan. His only other minutes were 45 minutes against Preston North End in the EFL Cup, with one extra minute against Atletico Madrid.

So no, Phillips isn’t exactly a key player at Liverpool right now. And that certainly explains the supposed price – £10m. That, for us, is a complete bargain.

Nat Phillips is a bargain transfer

We wrote after the AC Milan game that Liverpool were actually quite fortunate to avoid selling Phillips for £15m last summer. His performance against the Italians was fantastic – particularly for someone low of match fitness this season. Fantastic enough to drive his price up, anyway.

Instead, Liverpool appear to have dropped the asking price here. It’s a surprise to us as Phillips is consistently proving to be far more than a £10m player.

Far, far more, in fact. Phillips was a centre-back that helped deliver a third-place finish last season and he’s just gone to San Siro and delivered a win. Where else can you get that for £10m?

Especially as Phillips is still just 24. He’s only going to get better with experience and we’d imagine he’s worth twice that before the summer, to be honest.

At the same time, Phillips just isn’t playing and the £10m asking price is understandable. Liverpool are offering up a bargain transfer here, though – West Ham could well benefit.