Newcastle transfer news: Nat Phillips ready to leave Liverpool in January

Add as preferred source on Google

Newcastle United target Nat Phillips is prepared to leave Liverpool during the January transfer window.

The Reds defender has been speaking to Sky Sports about his future, and admitted that he is open to leaving next month.

This news will interest Newcastle, who are reportedly interested in signing the 24-year-old as they look to boost their defensive options. West Ham have also been named as a possible destination by the Evening Standard.

But all Phillips wants is to play football.

What has Nat Phillips said about his Liverpool future?

“I want to be playing games. It’s been tough because the competition to get in this team is fierce,” Phillips told Sky Sports.

“The manager and I agree that the best thing for me is to play as many games as possible. I think you saw last year I developed well.

“I’m going to see what comes along [in January] and go from there. I think at this moment in time it’s unlikely that I’ll be playing lots of games for Liverpool, so if an opportunity arises where I get the chance to do that somewhere else and it suits everyone then it’s certainly something I’d be interested in.”

Newcastle need to beat West Ham

The Evening Standard recently reported that West Ham are ready to meet Liverpool’s £10million asking price.

That’s a relatively small fee for someone so young. While he’s far from an elite defender, he’s proven at Liverpool that he can hang with the best.

He performed well last season under extremely difficult circumstances, while he recently handled the legendary Zlatan Ibrahimovic with ease.

West Ham want Phillips to ease their defensive crisis, with Angelo Ogbonna and Kurt Zouma out injured. But what will happen to him when those players return?

Newcastle’s centre-back need is more immediate, with Eddie Howe’s current options not up to the standard required.

Phillips wants to play first-team football, and he’s more likely to get that at Newcastle long-term. However, our position in the table compared to West Ham’s may heavily influence his decision.