Former Liverpool defender Gary Gillespie believes Nat Phillips could be eyeing up an Anfield exit in the near future.
This comes after the 24-year-old was left on the bench during the 3-0 victory over Norwich City in the Carabao Cup this week.
After stepping into the breach last season the no-nonsense centre-back has been pushed down the pecking order by returns to fitness and the arrival of Ibrahima Konate.
Speaking on LFC TV, Gillespie suggested that Phillips may begin to consider his future on Merseyside.
He had a big part to play [last season], but that’s the way football is. They went and bought a big centre-back in Konate and you have got four top-class individuals ahead of you. He probably knows that himself and he is probably looking elsewhere at this moment in time.
Phillips signed a new long-term contract during the summer, a ‘reward’ for a string of fine performances that helped Liverpool qualify for the UEFA Champions League.
So far this term the Bolton-born ace has featured on the bench on three occasions – failing to play a single minute of competitive action.
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It came as a surprise to many when Phillips stayed beyond this summer, seemingly destined to be the fifth choice behind Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez, Joel Matip and Konate.
Having enjoyed a taste of elite first-team football and flourishing, the powerful Englishman would’ve been keen to develop further.
However, Reds’ boss Jurgen Klopp was rightly desperate to guard against the crippling injury crisis of last term with so many returning from long absences and opted to keep Phillips on as a reliable backup.
Valued at £7.2million and now under contract until 2025 (Transfermarkt), should the club decide to sell there would be a healthy transfer fee forthcoming.
