It would be a huge surprise if 26-year-old stays at Liverpool this summer

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Nat Phillips is finally set to leave Liverpool once and for all at the end of the current season.

The centre-back has long been seen as one of the Reds most valuable assets on the market. However, for one reason or another Phillips has never been granted his move away.

According to the Liverpool Echo though, that’s set to change this summer. They claim that it would be a ‘major surprise’ if Phillips was still at Liverpool next season.

Elsewhere, they name as many as 13 other players who could be set to leave the Reds. Roberto Firmino and Adrian are the only two players said to be ‘definitely’ leaving, with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Naby Keita and James Milner in the ‘probably’ column.

Beyond that quintet, Fabio Carvalho, Caoimhin Keller and Phillips appear the most likely to be sold. Meanwhile, Joel Matip, Rhys Williams, Kostas Tsimikas, Leighton Clarkson, Tyler Morton and Conor Bradley could also reportedly be on the chopping block.

Phillips looking to kick-start career

At this point, most Liverpool fans will surely be actively rooting for Phillips to be sold. That’s nothing against the player himself, he’s done a job for the club and made the most out of his limited abilities.

But for Nat himself, he just needs to get out and truly begin his career. Remarkably, the former Bolton Wanderers man is now twenty-six. By that ripe old age he has just 70 senior appearances to his name.

For context, Luis Diaz is just two months older than Phillips and has played over 350 games for club and country. The centre-back must be feeling like his career is simply passing him by.

Although there have been accentuating circumstances, Liverpool are hugely to blame for that. They could have sold Phillips last summer or the summer before but have priced him out or blocked moves each time.

Now, the Reds hero of 2020/21 needs to ensure that he joins a club who plan on using him. He’s shown that he’s capable of playing to a very good level. He still has a chance to make the most out of his career, there’s no time to lose.

For Liverpool’s part, they will still hope to bank a decent fee for Phillips. But having barely played for them for the last two years, they’ll have to be realistic too.