{"id":598541,"date":"2021-08-07T21:17:03","date_gmt":"2021-08-08T01:17:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/?p=598541"},"modified":"2021-08-08T06:20:45","modified_gmt":"2021-08-08T10:20:45","slug":"newcastle-united-liverpool-nat-phillips","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/2021\/08\/07\/newcastle-united-liverpool-nat-phillips\/","title":{"rendered":"Newcastle United Reportedly \u2018Make Contact\u2019 With Liverpool for Defender Nat Phillips"},"content":{"rendered":"

Newcastle United<\/a> have reportedly joined the race for Liverpool<\/a> defender Nat Phillips, according to James Pearce of The Athletic<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Steve Bruce\u2019s side join a host of clubs keen to sign the 24-year-old, who is likely to leave Anfield this summer<\/a> and could demand a fee of around \u00a315 million.<\/p>\n

Newcastle United Reportedly Join Race For Liverpool Defender Nat Phillips<\/h2>\n

Nat Phillips is Attracting Plenty of Interest<\/h3>\n

The report suggests Newcastle have made initial contact with Phillips\u2019 representatives ahead of a proposed move to Tyneside. After a shaky defensive campaign last season, manager Bruce will be keen to bolster his options with the potential addition of Phillips.<\/p>\n

The central defender made his mark for Liverpool last season after stepping into the heart of Jurgen Klopp\u2019s defence when the club was hit with an injury crisis. All three of Klopp\u2019s go-to defenders in Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez and Joel Matip were all ruled out synchronously, meaning Phillips was thrown into the deep end.<\/p>\n

He did manage to form a solid partnership with January loanee Ozan Kabak, which helped steer the club into a Champions League spot by the end of term.<\/p>\n

Those performances, though, have caught the attention of more than just Newcastle\u2019s. The Magpies will have to fend off the likes of Burnley and Brighton & Hove Albion, who have also taken an interest<\/a> in the defender. The Seagulls are looking to replace Ben White, who signed for Arsenal<\/a> last month for \u00a350 million.<\/p>\n

Phillips Likely to Have Dropped Down the Liverpool Pecking Order<\/h3>\n

Despite Phillips\u2019 stable performances in tricky circumstances, it is likely he will have slipped down the pecking order at Anfield. Liverpool have brought in talented defender Ibrahima Konate<\/a> from RB Leipzig, while the aforementioned trio are nearing a return to full fitness.<\/p>\n

At 24, Phillips should ideally be looking to be playing regular minutes, and with his opportunities likely to be narrowed, it could pave the way for an Anfield exit. Newcastle could be an ideal place for the defender to continue his rise, where he can flourish as a central figure within Steve Bruce\u2019s back three.<\/p>\n

Main Photo
\nEmbed from Getty Images<\/a>