West Ham tipped to get £5m off Phillips asking price after Liverpool reveal – pundit
Noel Whelan has tipped West Ham to strike a deal worth £10million to sign Nathaniel Phillips from Liverpool.
The former Leeds striker, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, suggested the Irons could seal a cut-price deal for the 24-year-old.
As revealed by Football Insider last month (29 November), West Ham have been laying the groundwork to sign Phillips next month after losing Angelo Ogbonna to injury.
The Athletic now claim (17 December) the Reds have slapped a £15million price tag on the centre-back.
The player himself is reportedly keen to leave and Liverpool will not stand in his way if their valuation is met.
However, Whelan suggested West Ham could negotiate a deal to slash a third off his asking price.
Whelan told Football Insider’s Russell Edge: “I think £10million is about right for him. He’s had one season in the Premier League.
“He has been in and around the squad since he made his debut and had that season when Van Dijk was out. He’s really come on leaps and bounds.
“I think he’s gonna be a smashing centre-half. Somebody will see him with that kind of character, personality and strength as a centre-half that they could really use.
“I think £10-12million for the young men. You’re getting a very good centre-half for a long time at your football club.”
Phillips has only played three times for Liverpool this season.
Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konate, Joel Matip are ahead in the pecking order.
The English defender has a total of 24 appearances under his belt at Anfield so far.
In other news, ex-manager suggests real reasons for one West Ham star’s issues this season.