---
title: "Gary Gillespie believes Nat Phillips could be eyeing Liverpool exit"
canonical: "https://readliverpoolfc.com/news/gary-gillespie-believes-nat-phillips-could-be-eyeing-liverpool-exit/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Dan Clubbe"
section: "Liverpool News"
published: "2021-09-23T11:00:00Z"
modified: "2021-09-23T11:00:00Z"
---

# Gary Gillespie believes Nat Phillips could be eyeing Liverpool exit

Former [Liverpool](https://readliverpoolfc.com/2021/09/23/virals-liverpool-handed-double-boost-ahead-of-huge-epl-fixture/) defender Gary Gillespie believes [Nat Phillips](https://readliverpoolfc.com/2021/08/31/virals-liverpool-defender-nat-phillips-signs-new-four-year-contract/) 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](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/58553817) over Norwich City in the Carabao Cup this week.

After [stepping into the breach](https://www.liverpoolfc.com/news/first-team/434196-nat-phillips-and-rhys-williams-have-created-proper-careers-now) 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](https://video.liverpoolfc.com/), 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’](https://www.liverpoolfc.com/news/first-team/442317-nathaniel-phillips-signs-new-long-term-liverpool-deal) 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](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/nathaniel-phillips/leistungsdaten/spieler/371814) – failing to play a single minute of competitive action.

### READ LIVERPOOL VERDICT

It came as a surprise to many when Phillips stayed beyond this summer, seemingly destined to be the [fifth choice](https://www.liverpoolfc.com/team/first-team) behind Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez, Joel Matip and Konate.

Having enjoyed a taste of elite first-team football and [flourishing](https://www.sofascore.com/player/nathaniel-phillips/920393), 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](https://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/van-dijk-gomez-matip-return-liverpool-squad-pre-season-camp/12m7vh7ikry0e1lvh2nr1quv0s) and opted to keep Phillips on as a reliable backup.

Valued at £7.2million and now under contract until 2025 ([Transfermarkt](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/nathaniel-phillips/marktwertverlauf/spieler/371814)), should the club decide to sell there would be a healthy transfer fee forthcoming.