Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp admits Nat Phillips could be in line for a January exit from the Anfield camp amid speculation over his future at the club.
In the build-up to the forthcoming winter transfer window that opens at the turn of the year, rumours have suggested that the Liverpool centre-back Phillips is being eyed by West Ham United and Newcastle United.
Phillips had been a breakout star on Merseyside for the second half of the 2020-21 campaign with his stellar run of form at the back key to Jurgen Klopp’s side ensuring a top-four finish in the Premier League.
The summer signing of Ibrahima Konate coupled with the returns of Virgil van Dijk and Joel Matip from long-term layoffs, however, has meant a fall down the pecking order once again for Phillips.
Speaking to reporters ahead of the Reds taking on Wolves over the weekend, Klopp admitted that he could be forced to part ways with Phillips who was showered with praise by the Liverpool manager in his pre-match presser.
“I don’t think about the AC Milan game, but I have to mention Nat Phillips.”
“People often ask me which player made the biggest improvements under my leadership, and I say Robert Lewandowski.
“That’s probably right, but not far off that is Nat Phillips, just in a completely different department.
“I remember when I saw Nat Phillips first. I spoke to him after the game and he’s one of the smartest players I ever worked with
“I told him: ‘You know you are not the easiest on the eye, eh?’
“But he improved in pretty much everything since, and he’s not playing. Life is sometimes not fair and I can’t blame him.
“We cannot keep him forever, that’s clear. We needed him, just to be safe, for that half-year.
“We will see what happens in the window. He was fine doing it because he’s a great guy.
“But his development is absolutely insane. You saw it last year, you would have said: ‘Nat Phillips, oh my God, he plays in the last line?’
“People love him because of his heading but with his feet he is unbelievable.
“He’s a late starter, but his development is unbelievable. I would sign him for any club except Liverpool because we have him.”
