Liverpool are set to do yet another U-turn on Nat Phillips’ future after injury to Ibrahima Konate.
The Reds had reportedly been willing to allow Phillips to finally depart the club today. But after Konate’s latest injury blow, The Athletic suggest that this is now unlikely to be the case.
Instead, they claim that Phillips is looking ‘increasingly likely’ to stay at Anfield for the rest of the season.
Interest from the 25-year-old had reportedly come from Galatasaray, as well as ‘a number of German clubs.’ However they’re set to be disappointed, with Phillips’ departure due to be blocked.
Phillips stuck at Anfield a little longer
Nat Phillips must seriously be wondering what he did wrong. At every turn the former Bolton man is being prevented from searching for first team football.
Every time he looks ready to leave Liverpool, something gets in the way.
First, Virgil van Dijk’s injury looked to have put a pin in any hopes Phillips had of leaving this month. Then, the Reds recalled Rhys Williams from his loan spell, seemingly with the intention of letting Nat leave. A £10m price-tag had been mooted.
Now, with Konate potentially missing four big games for Liverpool, he’s been bumped back up to third choice centre-back.
On the one hand, it gives Phillips more likelihood of playing. With Joe Gomez and Joel Matip not exactly the most reliable partnership fitness-wise, he could easily see game-time.
There’s a huge tie with Real Madrid on the horizon and at this rate Phillips could even find himself in the team when that rolls around.
Of course, a lot of that will depend on Van Dijk’s recovery. Updates on the Dutchman’s recovery have been sparse and he’s now missed that last five games.
Should he return in the next couple of weeks, Phillips will likely have to settle for a spot on the bench again. With Konate supposedly not too far behind Virgil, Nat will be back down to fifth-choice and more time wasted in a career that has seen too much of that already. What a shame.
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