Liverpool

Liverpool

Premier League • England

Liverpool transfer news: Concrete exit route remains for defender subject of ‘strongest interest’ from well-informed Prem rival

Joe Gomez and Nat Phillips applauding

Liverpool could be considering offers for a number of players in the January transfer window – and one of them has discovered he could stay in the Premier League.

While the Premier League is on pause for the World Cup, Liverpool will be taking their chance to reflect on how they have started the season and how they might want to adapt their squad during the January transfer window.

Their inconsistent form has put a few players under pressure. Besides, some of the lesser used members of Jurgen Klopp’s squad might want to leave in order to experience more gametime elsewhere.

A recent report named Naby Keita, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Nat Phillips as three players who could be up for sale during January. However, it was later clarified that Liverpool are planning to keep Keita until the end of the season.

The other two, though, appear to still be at risk. With that in mind, they should be on the lookout for new clubs over the next couple of months.

It will be a more pressing issue for Oxlade-Chamberlain, who is out of contract at the end of the season. Although, Phillips will presumably want to get his career back up and running as quickly as possible.

Indeed, at the same time last year, he left Liverpool on loan to help Bournemouth win promotion to the Premier League. His spell on the South Coast was more productive.

Now, it seems he could be looking for a permanent exit, despite his contract with Liverpool lasting until 2025. At the age of 25, he simply cannot waste too much more of his career.

Should he leave Liverpool in the winter, this time he could get to stay in the Premier League. Indeed, according to journalist Dean Jones, a chance remains that West Ham will make a move for him after previously showing an interest.

West Ham could reinforce defence further with Nat Phillips

Jones told Give Me Sport: “The strongest interest I guess you could say would be West Ham and Nat Phillips.

“They’ve had a keen eye on him, they’ve had good reports on him and they considered going for him strongly in the summer window. So I can see that one coming around again.”

West Ham were already investing in their defence over the summer. They brought in centre-backs Nayef Aguerd and Thilo Kehrer, as well as left-back Emerson Palmieri.

They have not progressed as they would have liked this season, though. Going into the World Cup break, they sit 16th in the Premier League table, just one point above the relegation zone.

The club will have to think about what to do during the January transfer window to keep themselves safe. With Europa Conference League football still on offer this season, they should remain an appealing enough destination.

For someone like Phillips, it will be important to find a club where gametime will be on offer on a more regular basis than at present. Perhaps West Ham need to shake things up at the back, so could appreciate his Premier League experience.

It would be an interesting move for the Bolton-born stopper. Only time will tell if West Ham are able to get their man, and for how much.

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