Nat Phillips 'set to leave Liverpool this summer'

Liverpool defender Nat Phillips is reportedly set to leave the club at the end of the season.

Phillips, who joined Liverpool in 2016, has failed to establish himself as a regular first-team player at Anfield.

The centre-back has spent time on loan with Stuttgart and AFC Bournemouth, but he has only featured in 29 games throughout his Liverpool career.

Twenty of those appearances took place in the 2020-21 season when Phillips was presented with a run in the team due to a number of injury absentees.

In May 2021, Phillips and his fellow centre-back Rhys Williams earned plaudits from Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp.

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"These two boys, playing like that, it is incredible, absolutely incredible," Klopp said. "That was a proper crash course in a Premier League education, and they have learned so much.

"It's a sign for all our kids at Liverpool in the academy. It's possible - it shows it's possible...just work hard.

"These boys they are obviously not skilled like crazy, they had to work incredibly hard. And now they are proper, proper Premier League players. And that's exactly how it can work. I am really happy for them."

Despite receiving encouragement from the Liverpool manager, Phillips has been unable to force his way up the pecking order.

Klopp has utilised Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate as his first-choice central defensive pairing this term, while Joe Gomez and Joel Matip have also been preferred over Phillips.

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As a result, Phillips has been restricted to just five appearances this season, and he has only played 25 minutes of first-team football in 2023.

With Phillips out of favour, The Athletic are reporting that he will be allowed to leave the club in the summer.

The 25-year-old was linked with Newcastle United and West Ham United in the January transfer window, where it was reported that the Reds had set a £15m asking price.

Phillips may not be the only defender leaving Anfield this summer, though, with uncertainty surrounding the future of Matip, who is out of contract in June.

Liverpool are currently preparing for the second leg of their Champions League last-16 tie with Real Madrid, where they will need to overturn a three-goal deficit after losing 5-2 at Anfield three weeks ago.