Nottingham Forest have expressed ‘strong interest’ in singing Liverpool defender Nat Phillips as part of a double-raid on Anfield including Sheyi Ojo, according to Goal.
Forest are taking to the summer market after the sale of defender Matty Cash to Aston Villa for £16million, with Sabri Lamouchi’s side now boasting funds at their disposal to build a side capable of securing promotion into the Premier League.
The City Ground natives fell narrowly shy of making the Play-Offs last season and believe Phillips and Ojo have what it takes to make a difference this term, but face firm competition for one of the Reds youngsters’ signatures.
Phillips is understood to be on the radar of several clubs from around Europe, including the likes of Bristol City, Middlesbrough, Stoke, Millwall and Swansea, after making 19 appearances whilst on loan with VfB Stuttgart during their promotion-clinching Bundesliga 2 campaign in 2019/20.
No final decision has yet been made on the 6 ft 2 centre-half’s long-term future at Anfield, though there is an expectation that Liverpool will allow the 23-year-old to leave the club in either a permanent or temporary deal this summer.
Jurgen Klopp had welcomed Phillips into his pre-season training plans but favoured fellow youngster Billy Koumetio in the matchday squad which lost to Arsenal in the Community Shield.
Ojo has not been training with the Reds first-team this summer but instead the Under 23s and is now likewise expected to leave Anfield this summer, with Nottingham Forest attempting to agree a loan deal for the 23-year-old winger.
Should Klopp sell, loan or keep Phillips this summer?
Sell
Loan
Keep
Goal note that Ojo had once been considered to be one of our brightest young prospects but has seen his status plummet in recent years, having not made a first-team appearance on Merseyside since January 2017 and endured a string of failed loan moves since.
His performances with Rangers last season were particularly underwhelming, with the occasional flash of skill soon met with an inability to hold down a place under Steven Gerrard.
It would be no surprise should he, and Phillips, now again leave Anfield in search of regular first-team football, while a permanent sale of Ojo may not be something to entirely rule out yet.
Phillips would be one we can expect back on Merseyside in a year’s time should he impress with Forest during a loan spell, although the City Ground native’s new-found funds may see Lamouchi’s side present a fee too good to turn down.
Over his 19 Bundesliga 2 appearances, Phillips started 16 and helped to five clean sheets and two assists with two big chances created from an average 0.4 key balls, plus 1.6 tackles, 3.6 clearances, 0.7 interceptions, 4.5 aerial duels won, 2.6 ground duels won, 84.9 touches and 61.5 accurate passes a game, per SofaScore.