Arsenal
Aston Villa
Chelsea
Crystal Palace
Everton
Fulham
Leeds United
Liverpool
Manchester City
Manchester United
Newcastle United
Nottingham Forest
Southampton
Tottenham Hotspur
West Ham United
Wolverhampton Wanderers
News
If Liverpool are ready to sell Phillips for £10m, Celtic need to be on red alert – TBR View
Nat Phillips has emerged as an unlikely Liverpool hero during the course of the second half of the season – amid a centre-back crisis that has lasted the entirety of the 2020-21 campaign at Anfield. But new reports claim that Liverpool are ready to put emotion aside and cast him off for just £10million and if that is the case, then surely, Celtic have got to be on red alert and look to bring the no-nonsense defender north of the border?
Phillips, 24, had managed just one senior appearance for Liverpool before the start of the season and had, instead, been on loan at second-tier German side Stuttgart the season before – though he helped them gain promotion to the Bundesliga. He returned to Liverpool last summer and was , but he chose to remain at Anfield.
While it was a decision that might have been criticised, it has turned out to be the right one – and then some. Phillips has benefitted massively from the absence of Virgil van Dijk, Joel Matip and Joe Gomez – playing 20 times this season and starting 11 of Liverpool’s last 14 league games. He has been magnificent, but Liverpool are ready to sell for £10million.
Perhaps harsh, Phillips might entertain a move to the right club. With van Dijk and Gomez expected to be back next season, and the possibility of another centre-back arriving in the form of Ibrahima Konate, Phillips would be fourth choice again – even if Matip leaves. So, a move this summer is probably wise – and Celtic have got to give him that chance.
Celtic need a centre-back with Shane Duffy returning to Brighton after a disappointing loan. Kris Ajer, meanwhile, is expected to leave – with Newcastle linked. Celtic need a defender that is good on the ball given they dominate possession, strong in the air to dominate Celtic’s domestic opponents but also quick – an area in which Duffy struggled given the space in behind.
Phillips has shown he can do all three by playing for Liverpool. While £10million would be a record for Celtic, the Hoops could try and reduce that fee to something more affordable. But the point is, is that if Liverpool are ready to sell Phillips for a decent price – one inside Celtic’s affordability – then surely the Hoops have to be interested in luring him north.
