Bournemouth are reportedly in talks with Liverpool over the possibility of signing defender Nat Phillips permanently in an £8 million deal.
According to Daily Express, Liverpool and newly-promoted club Bournemouth are involved in negotiations over the permanent transfer of Nat Phillips in the upcoming summer transfer window.
Phillips joined Liverpool from Bolton Wanderers in 2016 and rose through the ranks at the club before making his debut for the Reds in 2020. Having spent the 2019/20 campaign on loan at VfB Stuttgart, the 25-year-old was kept at Liverpool by Jurgen Klopp last season and the centre-back was integral to their top-four push in the second half of the season.
Indeed, with the likes of Joe Gomez, Virgil van Dijk and Joel Matip missing a large chunk of the campaign due to injuries, Phillips stepped up and helped Liverpool qualify for the UEFA Champions League. However, the summer signing of Ibrahima Konate pushed him further down the pecking order, and the 25-year-old joined Bournemouth on loan in January.
Phillips has carried his good form forward with the Cherries, playing a crucial role in their second-place in the EFL Championship, helping them secure promotion to the Premier League. The Liverpool loanee made 18 appearances for Scott Parker’s side in the second half of the 2021/22 campaign and has made a hugely positive impression.
So much so that Bournemouth are now keen on signing Phillips on a permanent deal in the summer. Their agreement with Liverpool during the January transfer window did not include an option for a permanent transfer. So, it is being reported that the two clubs are now in talks over a possible switch on a full-time basis in the upcoming window.
As per the Express, any deal to sign Phillips permanently could cost Bournemouth a transfer fee of just £8 million, even though the defender still has more than three years left on his contract with Liverpool. If not a permanent move, the Cherries are also open to taking the 25-year-old on loan next season.
Phillips, for his part, is keen on playing regular Premier League football, which might not be possible at Liverpool. So, a permanent transfer to the Vitality Stadium in the summer might appeal to all parties involved. It remains to be seen if Liverpool and Bournemouth strike an agreement over the reported £8 million deal.
