Liverpool will only allow Nat Phillips to leave the club on loan this summer as he is being lined up as a potential successor to Joel Matip.
The defender, 25, spent the second half of last season at Bournemouth and impressed in the Cherries’ promotion to the Premier League, making 18 appearances.
The Reds were reportedly planning to sell Phillips with Ibrahima Konate, Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez and Matip providing enough depth in defence.
However, according to The Mirror, Jurgen Klopp took notice of Phillips’ performances at the Vitality Stadium and has decided against cashing in on the Englishman.
The report goes on to say that the centre-back is highly rated in Merseyside and is being tipped as a long-term replacement for Matip.
Klopp’s reluctance to move Phillips on permanently means the Bolton native could be in line for a return to Bournemouth on loan this summer.
During the 2020-21 campaign, he rose to prominence after being introduced to the Liverpool first-team following injuries to Van Dijk and Matip.
Starring alongside Rhys Williams, he helped the Reds secure a top four finish despite a difficult season.
After Liverpool made it to the Champions League final in May, Klopp texted Phillips to thank him for his efforts.
Phillips told the Liverpool Echo: ‘It says a lot about him. It was a really nice surprise. Quite a few of the Bournemouth lot mentioned it as well.
‘It shows what he’s like as a manager and what he’s like to work for and why he gets so much out of the players because that is how he’ll treat you as a player and as a person.
‘It was a nice surprise and nice to know that he was keeping an eye out for what was going on at Bournemouth, even though he had such a big game of his own on his mind.
‘It was nice of him to mention me and Rhys (Williams) and give us a bit of credit for contributing to the journey.’
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