Transfer Centre

Nat Phillips 'staying at Liverpool after Ibrahima Konate injury'

By Ben Knapton, Senior Reporter | 31 January 2023

Nat Phillips 'staying at Liverpool after Konate injury'

Liverpool reportedly decide against letting Nat Phillips leave on transfer deadline day following Ibrahima Konate's hamstring injury.

Liverpool centre-back Nat Phillips will reportedly not be allowed to leave the club on transfer deadline day following Ibrahima Konate's injury setback.

Earlier on Tuesday, it was reported that Konate would be facing up to three weeks on the sidelines with a hamstring injury sustained in Sunday's FA Cup loss to Brighton & Hove Albion.

With Virgil van Dijk also expected to remain out for another couple of weeks with his hamstring issue, Jurgen Klopp has been left with Phillips, Joe Gomez and Joel Matip as his only fit centre-back options.

Phillips was initially expected to head for the exit door in January amid his lack of game time, with Galatasaray said to have been leading the race for the 25-year-old.

However, The Athletic claims that Phillips will not be on the move before the January window slams shut due to Konate's injury, despite his desire to earn regular minutes elsewhere.

The report states that several German clubs were also considering a move for Phillips, but the Englishman will now be needed to provide some much-needed defensive cover in the coming weeks.

Phillips has only played five senior games for Liverpool in the 2022-23 season, including just 66 minutes of Premier League action, and his contract at Anfield expires in 2025.

Phillips will be expected to be on the move in the summer, though, and Liverpool have also recalled Rhys Williams from his loan spell at Blackpool to bolster their defensive options.