Brighton & Hove Albion are eyeing Liverpool defender Nat Phillips as a replacement for the outgoing Ben White, according to The Athletic’s Andy Naylor. White is set to seal a £50 million move to Arsenal in the coming days and the Seagulls are set to step up their interest in Phillips as a result.
Brighton Eyeing Nat Phillips as Replacement for Ben White
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White’s departure leaves a big hole in the Brighton defence just one year after he came into the side following his return from a loan spell at Leeds United.
Naylor reports that Liverpool defender Phillips, who broke into the first team at Anfield this season as a result of the Reds’ injury nightmare, is the leading candidate to replace White, although they face competition from several other Premier League clubs.
Though Phillips would cost considerably less than the sum Brighton will receive for White, this money will also need to be invested in other areas of the club and the squad, hence a low-cost replacement makes sense.
Phillips impressed this season when he was called up from the fringes at Liverpool and he became a key player in the second half of the campaign.
However, Joel Matip, Joe Gomes and Virgil van Dijk have all now returned from their respective injury issues, and the Reds also completed the signing of Ibrahima Konate earlier in the window.
It means that Phillips is surplus to requirements at Anfield, although the club are open to letting the defender decide his own future.
Phillips is no doubt a popular figure among Liverpool fans for stepping up next season, but going back to being on the fringes again would not be a good career move.
Going to a team such as Brighton would allow him to continue his regular playing time from last season.
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