Why is Nat Phillips going to Bournemouth?
Cameron Smith
- 31 Jan 2022 12:54 CST
- 3 min read
Liverpool central defender Nathaniel Phillips has officially joined Bournemouth on loan for the rest of the season, despite interest from several Premier League clubs.
It was believed that Phillips would depart on a permanent move this January, after Jurgen Klopp's team couldn't offload him last summer, but a move never materialised.
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Aston Villa were reportedly interested, with Steven Gerrard's Liverpool connections, but they opted to sign Calum Chambers from Arsenal.
So, Phillips, who stepped in admirably during Liverpool's defensive crisis last season, will be playing Championship football for the rest of the season.
But why has a player who was attracting interest from the Premier League and abroad joined Bournemouth on loan?
Not Enough Offers
It's understood that Liverpool wanted £15 million for Phillips from a potential suitor, but an offer of that extent never happened.
The Reds are believed to have set that price tag with the intention of selling Phillips this window, but following no interest at that price range, the choice was made to loan him out to Bournemouth.
According to The Mirror, both Klopp and Phillips compromised in order to let the player join Bournemouth on loan, with a non-permanent deal not ideal for any party.
It was Liverpool's intention to sell Phillips this month, given the return to fitness of Virgil van Dijk, Joel Matip and Joe Gomez, as well as the summer addition of Ibrahim Konate.
Phillips made 20 appearances last season, but that number has been reduced to just three so far this year, which has prompted a move away. The competition at Liverpool is so high, and despite garnering praise from Klopp, Phillips isn't close to being first choice. Regular football is what Phillips needs, and at Bournemouth he's been given that chance. The Cherries are competing for promotion, and Phillips will play a key role in their charge in the second-half of the season.
Furthermore, it allows Phillips to up his transfer value, rather than sitting on the bench week-in, week-out.
This will enable Liverpool to sell the defender at a premium price in the summer.
Furthermore, the Reds aren't keen on strengthening a rival, so sending Phillips to Bournemouth not only guarantees him game time, but it also guarantees Liverpool don't suffer as a result of the move.
