Several Clubs Lining Up to Sign Liverpool Defender This Summer | OneFootball

Nat Phillips: Loyalty, Loans and a Long Goodbye from Liverpool

Championship Interest Grows for Departing Phillips

One of the quieter stories in Liverpool’s summer window is that of Nat Phillips, a defender whose name may no longer feature in the headlines at Anfield, but whose contribution remains etched in club memory. According to The Athletic’s Gregg Evans, the 28-year-old centre-back is attracting “strong interest from West Brom and a number of other Championship clubs” as his contract with Liverpool approaches expiry.

After five loan spells, including stints at Stuttgart, Bournemouth and Celtic, Phillips now looks set for a permanent move away, and rightly so. His contributions at Liverpool may have been largely circumstantial, but they were far from inconsequential.

Photo: IMAGO

2020/21: A Season That Cemented His Cult Hero Status

Injuries to Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez and Joel Matip during the 2020/21 campaign left Liverpool threadbare in defence. Phillips, alongside Rhys Williams, stepped into the breach, helping guide the Reds to a Champions League finish that had seemed almost impossible.

Described by Jürgen Klopp as “an aerial monster,” Phillips was dogged, brave and ever-willing. It was in this campaign that he earned the affectionate nickname ‘Bolton Baresi’, a nod to his old-school style and no-nonsense approach.

Fans will also remember one of the more surreal moments in Liverpool’s recent European history, his Cruyff turn at the San Siro against AC Milan in 2021. The moment typified Phillips’ unique charm: not quite elegance, but certainly effectiveness.

Life Beyond Anfield Beckons

That last senior Liverpool appearance, an FA Cup replay against Wolves in January 2023, now feels like a lifetime ago. While still technically a Liverpool player, Phillips has been effectively operating as a travelling professional. Each loan spell reinforced his value, yet never cemented his future.

At Derby, under Paul Warne, Phillips was described as “outstanding,” and it’s understood the club would “happily have him back.” There’s no shortage of options now. West Brom lead the queue, but others from the Championship are circling. Given he helped Bournemouth to promotion in 2022, his record speaks for itself.

This is more than a journeyman looking for a contract, this is a player who deserves permanence. A settled home. A manager who builds around him rather than borrows him.

Photo: IMAGO

Time for Stability and Respect

It’s easy to forget, amid the transfer rumours and tactical debates, that footballers are human beings. Phillips is preparing to become a father. A permanent move isn’t just about football. It’s about life.

And for a player who answered Liverpool’s call when so few could, he deserves a chapter that finally brings continuity and respect.

Our View – Anfield Index Analysis

There’s nothing but gratitude for Nat Phillips. In a season marred by injury, uncertainty and tactical firefighting, he gave everything. His contribution to securing Champions League football in 2021 cannot be overstated.

Many fans would argue he was underused afterwards. While Klopp clearly admired him, describing him as “aerially dominant” and “outstanding”, there was never a long-term place for Phillips in Liverpool’s evolving defensive structure.

Now under Arne Slot, the club is resetting tactically. It’s unlikely Phillips would suit Slot’s more fluid, possession-heavy systems. He thrives in a more direct, reactive setup. That’s why a Championship move makes so much sense.

There’s no shame in moving on. Not every Liverpool player becomes a legend, but some become part of the club’s soul. Nat Phillips, the emergency man, the San Siro Cruyff-turner, the Bolton Baresi, is undoubtedly one of them.

Let him go with appreciation, and with the hope that his next chapter brings him everything that Anfield couldn’t: regular minutes, a permanent locker, and a crowd that sings his name every week.