Liverpool will let defender leave – But is it a permanent deal?

Liverpool have made a decent start to the Premier League this season despite concerns growing at Anfield following a poor year last time out. Having not reinforced as they had hoped in the summer transfer window, especially in centre midfield, they are set to let a defender leave who has struggled for game time.

Nathaniel Phillips looks set to leave Liverpool

Having come through the ranks at Bolton Wanderers, he was let go by the Trotters and signed for the Liverpool academy. He impressed manager Jurgen Klopp who called him into the first team for the 2020-21 season and made 17 Premier League appearances.

However, since then despite looking like the answer to Liverpool’s defensive woes and being the ideal partner for Virgil Van Dijk but since that season he has only made a further 2 league appearances for The Reds.

The 26-year-old Phillips was loaned out to Bournemouth in the 2021-22 season but has struggled to find consistent first-team football since then.

Will the transfer be permanent?

With the transfer window closing very soon there is an urgency to get deals over the line, it looks like Phillips will now be leaving on a loan deal rather than a permanent one which had been speculated.

With a deal for Leeds United being rumoured for £10 million that seems to have gone quiet. So a loan deal looks like the route Liverpool will take.

Who is most interested in the centre-back?

Phillips has attracted interest from several clubs mainly in the Championship but the front runners look to be Michael Carrick’s Middlesbrough. Boro have been struggling after a successful first season under the former Manchester United man but will be hoping Phillips will bring some stability to the back for them.

However, even if Boro do not land the Liverpool man, he will be keen to play anywhere because he is desperate to be getting some game time in especially at this stage in his career.