Nat Phillips could leave Liverpool on loan before deadline, Leeds United want to sign him
Leeds united could sign Nathaniel Phillip on loan from Liverpool this week with the player “desperate” for regular football, report The Athletic.
Writing on their live transfer blog (29 August, 15:06), the news outlet report that the Liverpool central defender is a target for an number of Championship clubs including Middlesbrough and Leeds.
The Whites have already sealed the loan signing of Joe Rodon from Spurs and Djed Spence is set to join too, but Phillips has been a target all summer and could become an option again.
“Liverpool defender Nat Phillips could leave on loan this week with Middlesbrough among a number of clubs keen to secure his services,” they wrote.
“The Championship outfit have registered their interest in the 26-year-old centre-back, who is desperate to play regular first-team football.
“Earlier in the summer, there was interest in Phillips from Leeds United and Feyenoord among others. Liverpool have been willing to listen to both permanent and loan offers for Phillips, who has two years remaining on his contract.”
Interesting
The central defender position is one that was seen as something that needed strengthening even before Liam Cooper’s injury problem.
Both Robin Koch and Max Wober left us for the Bundesliga this summer and while Rodon joined on loan and Charlie Cresswell returned from his loan at Millwall, we’re still quite light in the position.
Pascal Struijk hasn’t impressed in his more natural position and with Cooper out for a while yet, Phillips’ addition to the squad could be a much-needed option.
It could also allow Struijk to move back to left-back with the hunt for a new wide defender seemingly not progressing much, and Phillips’ experience in the Champions League and Premier League would no doubt make us better.
It’s one to keep an eye on for the remainder of the window, and the club are active, so it can’t be entirely ruled out at this point with just days remaining.
In other Leeds news, £51.5m development means Whites are open to sale of star attacker amid Euro club interest.