Southampton are not actively pursuing a deal to sign Nat Phillips and will only move for the West Ham and Newcastle target if Liverpool accept loan offers, according to The Athletic.
The Saints have been exploring a potential move to bring Phillips to the south coast for the past month. But Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side have not made any concrete efforts to acquire the 24-year-old, despite selling Jannik Vestergaard to Leicester.
Vestergaard joined the Foxes for £15m last week, yet Southampton had already begun the search for the Denmark international’s replacement. Hasenhuttl made signing a centre-half a clear target entering the window, and is still assessing options for his precise profile.
Liverpool enforcer Phillips is one option for Southampton to target, although they also like Fulham’s Tosin Adarabioyo. The Saints have registered their interest in the Cottagers’ 23-year-old. Yet face paying over £10m after the relegation clause in his contract expired.
Phillips would command a fee of around £12m-15m, but Southampton are not actively pursuing a deal with Liverpool. They are only likely to move for the 24-year-old if Jurgen Klopp’s Anfield natives warm to sending the Bolton-born star out on loan for the season.
Previous reports by The Athletic already cited Southampton’s interest in Phillips, but added Burnley, Brighton and Newcastle as potential suitors. The Toon were the latest outfit to formally register their interest, following West Ham and Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen.
Phillips spent 2019/20 on loan in Germany with Stuttgart and helped to their promotion from the second-tier over 19 appearances. Injuries then saw Klopp offer the Bolton product his Liverpool breakthrough last term, with 20 of his 21 career appearances.
Southampton can sign ‘unbelievable’ title in Liverpool defender Phillips
Southampton have offered their vast rival suitors hope of signing Phillips by opting against pursuing talks with Liverpool. But with the market closing in two weeks, the Reds could yet warm to the Saints’ desired loan deal. The one thing they seemingly need to eye a transfer.
Phillips could end Hasenhuttl’s search, at least for the 2021/22 season, were Southampton to request a loan and Liverpool accept. The 6 ft 2 centre-half impressed considerably last term and was key to the Anfield natives clinching third place.
He has his limitations, but Phillips shone with a no-nonsense approach and controls the air dominantly at both ends. Klopp even described the Englishman’s aerial excellence, via Goal, as ‘unbelievable’ in April. The German even expects him to one day boast ‘the best heading statistics in the history of the Premier League’.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
