Celtic appear to be close to signing Nat Phillips on loan from Liverpool.
Ten days after Maik Nawrocki was injured in the League Cup defeat away to Kilmarnock it seems that Brendan Rodgers is close to getting his wish with an experienced defender close to arriving.
In season 21/22 Phillips played 17 Championship matches after on loan at Bournemouth helping them to win promotion to the EPL.
Back at Liverpool Virgil van Dijk is backed up by some serious options with Phillips unlikely to see much game time.
In the 20/21 season Phillips did make 20 first team appearances for Liverpool including facing Real Madrid home and away in the Champions League. In January Liverpool signed Ben Davies from Preston but Phillips form meant that Davies never played a minute for Liverpool before being sent out on loan to Sheffield United then punted to Ibrox for £4m.
BREAKING: Liverpool defender Nat Phillips is set to join Celtic on a season-long loan 🔴🍀 pic.twitter.com/9jr3nupSby
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) August 30, 2023
News of Celtic’s interest in Phillips broke early this afternoon through Michael Grant in The Times who wouldn’t be flying a kite looking for hits.
With no travel or employment issues a deal should be fairly straightforward which could allow the 26-year-old to be training with the Celtic squad before the match at Ibrox on Sunday.
Although he hasn’t played in any of Liverpool’s competitive matches this season Rodgers could be tempted to give Phillips a debut at Ibrox.
Liam Scales and Gustaf Lagerbielke played together against St Johnstone on Saturday but with the physical threat posed by Micky Beale’s side the 6 foot 3 inch bulk of Phillips could be useful.
The timescale of Celtic’s transfer business is clearly frustrating supporters but if Phillips, Luis Palma and Benfica’s Paolo Bernardo are signed up it will provide some progress and freshness.
Following the international break over the weekend of September 9/10 Celtic are at home to Dundee then straight into the Champions League group stage matches with the draw being made tomorrow.
CLICK HERE for Phillips’ Soccerbase profile.
