Liverpool transfer exodus continues as "incredible" player loved by Klopp exits

31 August 2023 , 11:26

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Liverpool transfer exodus continues as "incredible" player loved by Klopp exits

Liverpool defender Nat Phillips is joining Scottish champions Celtic on a season-long loan deal that will be reassessed in the January transfer window.

The central defender has made 29 first-team appearances for the Reds, the bulk of which came in the 2020-21 campaign when Jurgen Klopp’s side were rocked by a defensive injury crisis. Phillips, a club youth academy graduate, impressed during his cameo role that campaign.

The 26-year-old is a favourite of Reds boss Klopp but has found game-time limited at Anfield as he is behind Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konate, Joe Gomez and Joel Matip in the pecking order for selection in the heart of defence.

Phillips has already had loan spells away from Anfield, spending time at German club Stuttgart in the 2019-20 campaign while playing 18 matches for Bournemouth two seasons ago. However, he featured just five times across all competitions for Liverpool last season.

A report in Sky Sports has outlined how a deal is in place to take him to Celtic for the season on a temporary contract. The clubs and player will be given the opportunity to reassess his situation in January.

Klopp's dream Liverpool line up as last-gasp January transfers rejected

Naby Keita, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Roberto Firmino and James Milner all left as free agents this summer before club captain Jordan Henderson departed for Al Ettifaq and Fabinho was also sold to Saudi Arabia, joining Al Ittihad.

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Phillips has been training with Liverpool but is now set to join Celtic (Getty Images)

Although Phillips has failed to nail down a regular starting spot at Anfield, he's held in very high esteem by Reds boss Klopp, who hailed him and fellow centre-back Rhys Williams as "incredible" back in 2021.

“These two boys, playing like that, it is incredible, absolutely incredible. That was a proper crash course in a Premier League education, and they have learned so much,” Klopp said. “It’s a sign for all our kids at Liverpool in the academy. It’s possible - it shows it’s possible...just work hard.

“These boys they are obviously not skilled like crazy, they had to work incredibly hard. And now they are proper, proper Premier League players. And that’s exactly how it can work. I am really happy for them.”

Nat is the son of former footballer Jimmy Phillips, who made over 350 first-team appearances for Bolton across two different spells.

Colin Millar