In a recent report, The Sun has mentioned that Newcastle United are eyeing a move for Liverpool defender Nathaniel Phillips this summer. It is understood that the Magpies are set to launch an official bid to sign the Reds centre-back, who could be available for around £10m (via The Sun).
Phillips’ Impressive Form At Anfield Last Season
The 24-year-old had a solid campaign with the Merseyside outfit as he managed to fill in during the injury absence of Virgil Van Dijk, Joe Gomez and Joel Matip by putting in some commanding displays at the heart of Jurgen Klopp’s defence.
Phillips featured in 20 matches for the Reds last season, scoring one goal and picking up one assist across various competitions. The Bolton-born talent gave a good account of himself on the defensive end of the field by averaging 1.4 tackles, 1.3 interceptions and 4.6 clearances per game in the Premier League and the UEFA Champions League. He even interchanged possession with his teammates quite well after completing 84% of his attempted passes in both those competitions (stats via whoscored).
However, Klopp has already signed Ibrahima Konate from Red Bull Leipzig, so Phillips will struggle to get any playing time if he remains at Anfield beyond this summer which could open the door for Newcastle to land him in this off-season.
What Will The English Defensive Ace Add To Steve Bruce’s Side?
Phillips can use his strong 1.90m frame to dominate the opposition in the air and is a composed presence on the ball. He is a tough-tackling centre-half who has got the hunger to win the ball back for his side. Plus, the English sensation is not afraid to put his body on the line to block a goal-bound shot from the opposition. He doesn’t like to take too many chances with his clearances which makes him a good no-nonsense defender for the Magpies to consider before the start of the new campaign.
At 24, Phillips will only get better with each season as long as he gets a chance to play regular first-team football at the highest level. He will undeniably add a lot of bite and steel to Newcastle’s backline and could go on to form a dominant defensive partnership with Jamaal Lascelles and Ciaran Clark at St. James’ Park in the coming seasons.
Phillips’ towering presence can also make him a goal-threat from indirect set-pieces, so he will be a great fit for Steve Bruce’s style of play at Tyneside. He will improve the quality of Newcastle’s match-day squad and has what it takes to earn a regular place in Bruce’s starting XI in the upcoming campaign.
