Reports from This is Anfield suggest that Celtic are nearing the completion of a season-long loan deal for Liverpool defender Nathaniel Phillips this summer.
The news outlet indicates that former Reds manager Brendan Rodgers is eager to bolster Celtic’s defensive lineup, especially in light of injuries to Cameron Carter-Vickers and Maik Nawrocki. Phillips has emerged as the prime candidate to fulfill this role.
At 26 years old, Phillips was linked with potential transfers to Middlesbrough and Stuttgart, but Celtic appear to be the frontrunner to finalise the transfer in the coming days.
Phillips currently finds himself lower down the pecking order at Liverpool, trailing prominent defenders such as Virgil Van Dijk, Ibrahima Konate, Joel Matip, and Joe Gomez. In the previous season, he participated in seven matches, contributing one assist across various competitions.
The defender has yet to be included in Liverpool’s matchday squad this season, sparking speculation about a potential departure from Anfield.
While Phillips still has two years remaining on his contract with the club, the trajectory seems to point towards a potential exit.
Having progressed through Liverpool’s youth academy, Phillips made his transition to Jurgen Klopp’s senior squad in 2018. His journey also included a loan spell at Bundesliga side VfB Stuttgart during the 2019/20 season, featuring in 22 matches and registering one assist across all competitions.
In addition to his time at Stuttgart, Phillips gained valuable experience through a loan spell at Premier League club Bournemouth.
Phillips came to the forefront of Liverpool’s squad during the 2020-21 season when the team was striving to secure a spot in the Champions League. Notably, he stepped up in response to injuries sustained by key defenders including Virgil Van Dijk, Joel Matip, and Joe Gomez.
As of now, the English defender has accumulated 29 appearances for Liverpool, contributing to two goals.
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