Premier League club lining up £15m move for Liverpool hero from 2020/21 season

Transfer News: Brighton & Hove Albion closing in on signing Liverpool defender Nat Phillips

According to a report by talkSPORT (h/t Liverpool Echo), Brighton & Hove Albion are interested in signing Liverpool centre-back, Nat Phillips, as they look for Ben White’s replacement.

The Seagulls are ‘planning’ a £15m bid for the Englishman. Phillips’ stocks grew in 2021 owing to his role in landing a top-four finish for Liverpool.

The 24-year-old stepped in the Reds’ defence during an unprecedented injury crisis and steered them towards a late surge for UEFA Champions League spots. But despite his heroics, first-team football looks unlikely for him next season.

With Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez, and Joel Matip returning from injuries to join new signing, Ibrahima Konate, in Liverpool’s defence, it is hard to see where the former Bolton man would fit in.

Brighton want Phillips

At 24, he would think he can do better than just being a backup for cup games, which is probably why the link between him and Brighton has emerged.

Phillips wasn’t seeing much action before the turn of this year as well. He was loaned out to VfB Stuttgart for the 2019/20 season and only an injury crisis in Jurgen Klopp’s side saw the Reds hand him regular starts.

The Merseysiders have a strong defensive line-up, at least on paper, and Phillips’ potential departure should not be a setback by any means. If the Seagulls agree on a fee with the Reds, that money can then be put towards bringing in new faces at the club.

More Liverpool News:

• FSG to hold off until 2022 to freshen up the Liverpool squad
• Liverpool star Trent Alexander-Arnold gives an update on his injury
• Liverpool skipper Jordan Henderson facing an uncertain future at Anfield

It may be surprising for some to know that Phillips has been on Liverpool’s books for five whole years. But it now seems like the right time for him and the club to part ways.