VfB Stuttgart are reportedly interested in out-of-favour Liverpool defender Nat Phillips.
According to Alan Nixon via Patreon, Bundesliga side VfB Stuttgart are interested in securing the services of Liverpool star Nathaniel Phillips in the ongoing summer transfer window.
The centre-back is a reliable player who came to the fore in the Reds’ 2020/21 campaign. He played a key role at the back, helping the Reds secure Champions League qualification despite losing Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez and Joel Matip to season-ending injuries.
However, the arrival of Ibrahima Konate has sidelined Phillips once again, making him the club’s fifth choice centre-back at best. He spent a short loan spell with Bournemouth in 2022, helping them secure promotion to the Premier League.
At 26, he is entering the prime of his career and is much better than a regular bench warmer at Anfield. Not only is Phillips a physically robust player and a warrior in the air, but is also technically adept. In fact, his Cruyff turn in his own penalty area against AC Milan in 2021 further enhanced his reputation as a cult hero at Anfield.
Stuttgart are now in the fray for the defender and have enquired to Liverpool about a potential deal. The Germans are open to signing Phillips permanently or on a loan. The Reds, meanwhile, prefer the former and are looking for a permanent solution.
With Virgil van Dijk facing a potential suspension (without appeal) following his sending-off against Newcastle United, it remains to be seen if Jurgen Klopp will now want to keep Phillips. Championship giants Leeds United are also keen on the 26-year-old.
A return to Stuttgart will be a familiar one for Phillips who spent the 2019/20 campaign on loan at the MHPArena. He established himself as a crowd favourite at the club and would certainly help the club solidify their leaky defence.
Stuttgart were trounced 5-1 by RB Leipzig on Friday, highlighting their porous backline. Adding a player of Phillips’s quality to the roster would be an upgrade. The Germans have already done business with Liverpool this summer following the sale of skipper Wataru Endo to the Reds. Phillips moving the other way could also prove to be another win-win.
