Bournemouth are reportedly hoping to sign Liverpool defender Nathaniel Phillips on a season-long loan deal.
According to Football Insider, Bournemouth have launched their plans to re-sign Nathaniel Phillips ahead of the new season. The newly-promoted Premier League club have kick-started talks with Liverpool over a potential loan deal that will see the defender return to the club for the 2022/23 campaign.
Phillips spent the second half of the 2021/22 season on loan at Bournemouth and he did not disappoint either. The defender settled in brilliantly and formed a formidable defensive partnership alongside Lloyd Kelly, with the Cherries notably keeping as many as eight clean sheets.
Their collective contributions at the back eventually played a key role in helping Bournemouth seal their promotion and return to the Premier League. And following their unprecedented success, it appears Bournemouth coach Scott Parker wants to reunite the duo once again ahead of the new season by bringing Phillips back from Liverpool.
Liverpool wanted to offload Phillips permanently this season, even putting up a £15 million price tag on the defender earlier in the summer. But it appears there has been a change of heart, with the Reds now keen on keeping him at the club, by sanctioning a temporary loan move for the Englishman.
It has put Bournemouth on alert. Although the Cherries were not in a position to complete a £15 million move for the 25-year-old centre-back, they are certainly open to signing him on loan from Liverpool ahead of the new season.
Parker wants to make Phillips and Lloyd his first-choice centre-backs next season, as he looks to build a solid defensive base that will be able to withstand the pressure of the English top-flight. Parker is banking on the defensive solidity from these two to help Bournemouth retain their Premier League status in the years to come.
However, the Cherries are sure to face stiff competition in the pursuit of Phillips. The 25-year-old has raised many eyebrows with his performances in the Championship, and it won’t be surprising to see the Liverpool defender being subjected to a move elsewhere.
Liverpool, meanwhile, will be looking to sanction the loan of Nathaniel Phillips as soon as possible and create some space in the squad. Phillips won’t be the only player to leave Anfield this summer, with the club also likely to offload Neco Williams amid interest from Nottingham Forest.