Liverpool must secure £15m for Nat Phillips as interest reportedly swells

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Liverpool must stick to their guns over Nat Phillips as clubs look to sign the defender. Reports claim at least two Premier League clubs have eyes on the 24-year-old.

Nat Phillips made himself a Liverpool hero last season as he helped the Reds secure Champions League football. Unfortunately for him, that’s flown a little under the radar outside of Anfield.

What Phillips did last season was incredible, though, as he grew from being a wildly inexperienced 23-year-old with no obvious future to being a starting centre-back for the team that finished 3rd. How many have undergone a transformation like that in one season?

Jurgen Klopp saw that level in him quite early on, in fact, as he labelled Phillips ‘incredible’ as far back as October 2020.

Now 24, Phillips should be regarded as a very interesting player with genuine potential. Instead, he’s struggling for games behind four elite centre-backs.

That was always going to be the case, however. Phillips only got the games he did last season because of injuries and those stars returned for this campaign. It’s why Liverpool reportedly tried to sell him in the summer, with the Athletic claiming a £15m asking price.

No one paid it, though – to our surprise. Now, in January, Phillips is still on the transfer market with a week to run. Liverpool should stick to that original asking price.

Nat Phillips to leave Liverpool?

The Athletic claims that Phillips is still expected to leave Liverpool this month. It’s easy to see why, too, as there’s reportedly interest from two Premier League clubs.

The Daily Mail says Newcastle United have eyes on Phillips after Sevilla upped their asking price for Diego Carlos. The Evening Standard says West Ham United want him as they search for a centre-back.

That, surely, should help Liverpool command that £15m asking price. Both teams are fairly desperate in their own way and have reasons to spend the full amount.

The Magpies are in a relegation battle and clearly want to improve their defence, having tried to both Carlos and Sven Botman. The Hammers are dealing with an injury to Angelo Ogbonna and want cover – vital in their pursuit of European football.

Both clubs are running out of time to find what they need, both stand to benefit greatly from getting the transfer right and that creates competition. A competition that will likely see one of them offer that £15m fee.

After all, we don’t think either club will find a better signing. Phillips is young enough to be a long-term investment, while boasting experience that few players match. He delivered Champions League football and featured in big games – a clean-sheet at San Siro this season was a real milestone.

On top of that, Phillips succeeded last season while learning on the job. That’s exactly what each team needs as they hope to add an important cog for the rest of the campaign. Phillips shouldn’t have trouble adjusting to a new enviornment.

Sky Sports claimed earlier in the month that a Premier League club offered Liverpool £7m for Phillips. The Reds said no, however, in a decision we celebrated. That suggests the club see the full £15m price as possible and recent reports support them on that.

It might go right to the wire but Liverpool will surely get their money.