Burnley are already planning to make a summer bid to sign Liverpool defender Nat Phillips as a replacement for James Tarkowski.
That’s according to the Liverpool Echo, who claim that Burnley are expected to make a cash bid for Phillips at the end of the season.
Phillips secured a deadline day move on Monday, signing for Championship side Bournemouth on loan until the end of the season.
After failing to start a single league game this season, Phillips now has a chance to go and play first-team football with the Cherries.
The expectation is that Phillips will still be sold at the end of the season, with a host of Premier League clubs interested.
The summer window is some way off – we’ve only just finished the January window – but Burnley are already planning.
After all, the Clarets almost have to plan now because they already know that star centre back James Tarkowski is leaving this summer.
Tarkowski’s contract expires at the end of the season and has made it clear that he will be moving on.
Sean Dyche will want a quality replacement, and whilst Nathan Collins has shown potential this season, Phillips would provide another option.
Hailed as ‘brilliant, intelligent and incredible’ by Jurgen Klopp, Phillips became a cult hero at Liverpool last season.
With Liverpool facing a defensive injury crisis, Phillips managed to step up admirably and shine in the heart of Klopp’s back line.
This season has been tougher for Phillips, who hasn’t started a single Premier League game for Liverpool.
Burnley can likely offer a starting role at Turf Moor, and that has to be appealing for the 24-year-old defender.
One concern for Burnley is that Tarkowski will leave for nothing whilst Phillips would likely cost more than £10million.
That isn’t ideal for the Clarets, but Phillips does make sense as a replacement given his committed, no-nonsense style of defending.
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