Liverpool tipped for £15m windfall after source’s Nat Phillips reveal – pundit
Noel Whelan has suggested Liverpool could demand as much as £15million for Bournemouth loanee Nat Phillips this summer.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the former Leeds striker insisted the 25-year-old looks destined for regular Premier League game time after joining the Cherries in January.
As reported by the Liverpool Echo on Thursday (24 March), promotion chasers Bournemouth are likely to want Phillips to sign permanently but Liverpool will demand a sizeable fee.
A recruitment source told Football Insider in January that Liverpool had set a £12million asking price on the defender’s head before his temporary move.
Whelan suggested Phillips’ performances may see the Reds up their demands this summer.
Asked if he thought Liverpool could price Phillips out of a summer move, Whelan told Football Insider’s Russell Edge: “Yeah, I think so.
“He had one good season when Van Dijk was injured. He really came up to the fore and we saw a lot of football from him.
“Around £15million? It’s hard for me to complain because Leeds sold Jack Clarke for £10million after half a good season.
“Phillips had a good season and has followed it on with challenging to get back to the Premier League with Bournemouth.
“Liverpool can only demand what they feel he’s worth. That’s the problem with clubs. Leeds decided £10million was what Jack Clarke was worth.
“Now you look back at it, we got the better deal, no doubt about that. I think Nat Phillips is a different kind of player.
“His sustainability will be a lot longer at the top level than Jack Clarke’s.”
Phillips has played eight times for Bournemouth since his temporary switch.
The Cherries have lost just once with him in the side.
In other news, Football Insider can reveal major update on Liverpool interest in Declan Rice.