Liverpool transfers: Deadline day move expected as star receives green light
Liverpool’s Nat Phillips is expected to leave for Derby County on loan today, according to the latest reports.
Arne Slot’s first summer transfer window as Liverpool head coach has been a relatively quiet one, with few arrivals at the club.
Whilst the Reds have secured the services of Georgian goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili as of next year, the only addition of note which affects the current campaign is that of Federico Chiesa.
Read more: Who could Liverpool sign today?
However, Friday’s deadline on the summer transfer window will allow for several key figures to depart.
One of the departures is the out-of-favour Phillips, who will move temporarily to Pride Park, according to the Times' Paul Joyce.
Liverpool Echo reported earlier this week that the 27-year-old was likely to exit amidst a major shake-up on the Kop, and Ben Doak, Kaide Gordon and Marcelo Pitaluga may also be set to move away.
Phillips has now received the ‘green light’ for his departure, as the defender searches for consistent game time.
Joining Liverpool’s academy in 2016, Phillips played a vital role in filling in for the injured Virgil van Dijk in 2020/21, producing exceptional defensive displays as he aided a makeshift Liverpool side in securing UEFA Champions League football.
However, the defender has since struggled for consistent game time at the club.
Since his heroics in Liverpool’s lockdown campaign, Phillips has played just two games of top-flight football, having spent a majority of his time at Liverpool out on loan.
Last season, Phillips made 18 appearances on loan at Championship club Cardiff City as he helped guided the Welsh club to a 12th-place finish.
Phillips finally gets his move
Whilst the Bluebirds expressed an interest in bringing the loanee to the club after the expiry of his deal, it is instead Derby who have swooped.
Most recently, Phillips attracted a move from Turkish side Trabzonspor, having expressed their interest in July.
Although Liverpool were unable to reach a deal with the club at the time, they are now prepared to let the exiled defender leave this Friday.