Newcastle have identified Nat Phillips as a transfer target according to reports.
The central defender had a season to remember with his status rising quickly from a player firmly on the periphery, to a key member of the starting lineup.
As other defenders fell around him Phillips stood tall and naturally grew in confidence, becoming a cult figure within the fan base due to his whole hearted commitment to the cause and his love of a powerful clearing header.
But as the likes of Virgil Van Dijk, Joe Gomez and Joel Matip return to full fitness along with the addition of Ibrahima Konate the question has been raised regarding what exactly happens to Phillips.
In a ideal world, Jurgen Klopp would love to keep the 24 year-old as a reliable back-up option in much the same way that Dejan Lovren was.
On the other side of the coin, Phillips has now proven himself at this level and as someone who is close to entering the prime of his career will want to play consistently.
The Mail reports that Steve Bruce is ready to put in a £10 million bid for Phillips but he is likely to find competition from Burnley.
With the way that both of those clubs play their Football, Phillips would be the ideal signing and likely to go another level.
In keeping with the honest way he goes about his Football, the former Bolton Wanderers youth player, recently spoke about his future possibilities.
“We haven’t had a conversation about it up until now. I think the situation is, initially they didn’t anticipate me having the season and putting in the performances that I did do.
“Maybe where they might have thought I was just going to do a job and then they would be able to sell me and I would move on, now they’re having second thoughts. I’m not sure.
“I still need to have the conversations with them and just see if there is a role for me there and what role they would want me to play.
“It would depend on if they saw a role for me at Liverpool and then what role that would be. I would have to decide what is best for myself off the back of that.”
Phillips has left such an impression that it would be a shame to see him depart.
But if he chooses that option, he will do so with the blessing of everyone associated with the club and in the knowledge that he played a pivotal role in Liverpool securing Champions League football for next season.
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