PSV Eindhoven have reportedly entered the race to sign Liverpool outcast Nathaniel Phillips, who is also courted by West Ham United and Newcastle United.
According to Football Insider, PSV Eindhoven have made a shock approach to sign Nathaniel Phillips. The Dutch giants are currently scouring the Premier League for a new centre-back and have set their sights on the Liverpool defender. Phillips is viewed as a budget option by PSV, although they are set to face stiff competition from several English clubs.
Liverpool have made Phillips available for sale in January, with Jurgen Klopp prepared to offer him the opportunity to continue his progress elsewhere. Watford had recently made a £7 million approach for the centre-back earlier this month, but it appears Liverpool are holding out for a fee of £12 million.
Formerly of Bolton, Phillips was a crucial part of the depleted Liverpool backline that had to deal with the absence of Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez and Joel Matip last season. He stepped up to the plate quite well, helping the club finish in the top four and secure Champions League football.
However, the 24-year-old has fallen out of favour at Anfield after the return of key defensive players and the addition of Ibrahima Konate. He has yet to make a single Premier League appearance so far, thus leading to speculation over his long-term future at the club.
It has put PSV Eindhoven on alert as well, with the Dutch outfit looking for a new centre-back in the January transfer window. Roger Schmidt’s men recently had to deal with the injury to defensive linchpin Andre Ramalho.
Although the former Red Bull Salzburg centre-back has completed his ankle surgery, Schmidt wants someone who can compete with him and Olivier Boscagli during the second half of the season.
Nathaniel Phillips fits the bill well, given his gritty defensive nature coupled with his familiarity with Jurgen Klopp’s high-press football. It should tune in well with Roger Schmidt’s tactical philosophy while handing him much-needed depth in the central defensive department.
However, Phillips won’t be an easy target for PSV as a number of Premier League clubs are keen on the 24-year-old Englishman. Along with Watford, Newcastle and West Ham have been linked with the Liverpool centre-back, and one would imagine the player himself would want to settle for a stay in England rather than venturing out abroad, especially to the Eredivisie, which is not considered as one of the top five leagues in the world.
