Fabrizio Romano: Turkish club has its eye on Liverpool defender

Nat Phillips is about to make his long-awaited departure from Liverpool

Liverpool, known for their shrewd transfer dealing, have recently been criticised for letting valuable players leave on free transfers. High-profile departures such as Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Naby Keita and Roberto Firmino last summer have put this trend in the spotlight. Even more worryingly, key players such as Trent Alexander-Arnold, Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah are now in the final year of their contracts and risk further losses without recouping transfer fees.

Among the players whose contracts are expiring is Nat Phillips, a centre-back who was mostly used as a substitute at Anfield, filling in when injuries hit. Despite his solid performances, Phillips has struggled to establish a regular place, making just 19 league appearances since his debut five years ago. He spent last season on loan at Celtic and then Cardiff City, but his return to Liverpool has reignited discussions about his potential sale.

Liverpool have set a price tag of £8 million for Phillips in order to secure cash from his departure. Fabrizio Romano reports that Turkish club Trabzonspor, who finished third in the Süper Lig and second in the Turkish Cup, are interested in signing Phillips. Romano stated: “Bringing Nathaniel Phillips to Trabzonspor is a concrete possibility… we are also waiting for the player to decide.” This interest from Trabzonspor represents a tangible opportunity for Liverpool to complete a long-awaited transfer.

Despite being beaten by Trabzonspor’s first offer of less than €5 million (£4.25 million), Liverpool remain hopeful of a better deal. Either Trabzonspor will improve their offer or their interest could prompt other clubs such as Ipswich Town and German side Mainz to make competitive bids. Phillips has proven his reliability in his rare appearances for Liverpool but with limited playing time, a move seems beneficial for both sides.

The club had previously demanded a hefty £15 million price tag, which put off potential buyers. In addition, injuries to Liverpool’s key defenders at crucial moments have thwarted previous transfer attempts. However, with just a year left on Phillips’ contract, Liverpool now face a crucial window of opportunity to secure a sale and allow Phillips to gain regular first-team play elsewhere.

As Liverpool continue to navigate the complexities of their transfer strategy, the sale of Nat Phillips appears imminent. With Trabzonspor leading the chase, Liverpool’s aim of securing a reasonable fee for the centre-back is within reach. If this deal goes through, it will not only benefit Phillips’ career, but also meet Liverpool’s need to balance its squad and finances efficiently.