Liverpool prepared to let out-of-favour defender Nat Phillips leave Anfield to join Leeds – but only on permanent deal
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LEEDS want Liverpool defender Nathaniel Phillips — but a loan request may not work for the Reds.
The centre-half, 26, can leave Anfield but they would prefer a sale while the Elland Road outfit are trying their luck for a short-term deal.
Phillips came through the Liverpool academy and began to be involved in Jurgen Klopp's first team squads in 2018.
He was loaned out to Bundesliga side VfB Stuttgart when Liverpool won the 2019-20 Premier League, however.
He notably played a key role in their 2020-21 season - which saw Liverpool qualify for the Champions League despite a tough start to the season.
A defensive injury crisis saw the likes of Virgil Van Dijk, Joel Matip and Joe Gomez all unavailable as Liverpool slipped down the table.
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Klopp therefore relied on Phillips as well as Ben Pearson - who they signed from Swansea that January, as they went on to secure a third-placed finish in the Premier League.
Phillips in particular impressed, but was loaned out to Championship side Bournemouth the following season.
On his departure Klopp said: "We would have loved to have kept him here, to be honest, with all the things that happened in the last few years here in the centre-half positions.
"Nat was incredibly reliable and a great figure here at the training ground."
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But his time at Liverpool is now looking numbered with the defender making just two Premier League appearances last season.
Phillips has made a total of 29 appearances for Liverpool, scoring once and also assisting once.
Meanwhile, Liverpool will let Dutch defender Sepp van den Berg head for Jurgen Klopp’s old club Mainz on loan.
The star, 21, had an unlucky spell in Germany with Schalke last season but it will not stop him going back for a year.