Liverpool central defender Nat Phillips is expected to leave the club during the January transfer window as Watford become the latest club to register an interest.
The 24-year-old made himself a hero last season when helping guide the Reds to a third-place Premier League finish with a string of outstanding defensive displays.
Following the successful returns of Virgil van Dijk, Joel Matip and Joe Gomez, Phillips has once again fallen down the pecking order at Anfield.
According to a report from Football Insider, as cited on Twitter, the no-nonsense defender has attracted the attention of relegation battlers, Watford.
FI EXCLUSIVE!✅
– Watford have made a move for Nat Phillips as Claudio Ranieri aims to recruit a new centre-back.✍️
– Liverpool want £12m for the 24-year-old.💰
– He wants to leave in search of regular first-team football.⚽
– https://t.co/a96xBVTFvX#WFC #LFC #Watford pic.twitter.com/YMn1Zc1Apl
— Football Insider (@footyinsider247) January 6, 2022
The report claims that Liverpool are ‘willing to listen to offers’ for the former VfB Stuttgart loanee and Claudio Ranieri has ‘identified’ Phillips.
This season the Bolton-born ace has made four appearances for Jurgen Klopp’s side across all competitions.
READ LIVERPOOL VERDICT
Valued at £7.2million and under contract until 2025 (Transfermarkt), Liverpool are certainly in a position of strength when it comes to demanding a fee for the centre-back.
However, having promptly become the fifth choice at Anfield, the club and Klopp, in particular, would likely be looking to grant the ace’s wishes to play regular first-team football.
Kopites will forever be indebted to Phillips and indeed Rhys Williams for steering the side to UEFA Champions League football for this term.
Whatever happens over the coming weeks, we will always have that turn in the San Siro.
