Klopp's 'incredible player' leaves Liverpool to take summer departures to 12
Liverpool have seen something of an exodus this season with a 12th player now joining the list of stars to head through the exit door so far in this transfer window
Liverpool's summer departures are set to be taken up to 12, with Nat Phillips closing in on a move to West Brom. Phillips broke through from the Reds' academy to become a key man in the 2020/2021 campaign.
His performances with Virgil van Dijk, Joel Matip and Joe Gomez all sidelined helped Liverpool secure qualification to the Champions League. They would then reach the final of that competition a year later.
Despite those displays, Phillips has struggled for gametime at the Premier League champions ever since. The centre-back was instead sent out on loan to Stuttgart, Bournemouth, Celtic, Cardiff City and Derby County.
His final appearance for Liverpool came against Wolverhampton Wanderers way back in January 2023. Trent Alexander-Arnold, Caoimhín Kelleher, Jakub Ojrzyński, Dominic Corness, Reece Trueman, Lee Jonas, Louis Enahoro-Marcus, Harry Evers, Jacob Poytress, Harvey Davies and Vitezslav Jaros have all already departed Anfield this summer.
Phillips is now set to become the latest man to join that exodus after finally securing a permanent move away. That deal for him to move to the Hawthorns is gathering pace.
According to The Athletic, Phillips is undergoing a medical on Monday with the Baggies. He has one year remaining on his contract with the Reds and had attracted interest from several Championship clubs.
But it is the Midlands side who have won the race, to leave new boss Ryan Mason delighted. It is expected that Phillips will join his new club in time to link up with the Baggies for the start of pre-season later this week.
The 28-year-old made 33 appearances for Derby as they secured survival in the second tier. Meanwhile, West Brom endured a disappointing season to only finish ninth, four points adrift of a play-off place.
Phillps' move ends a mixed time on Merseyside for the centre-back. He made his debut against Everton in the FA Cup in January 2020, and received major praise from Klopp for his role in securing Champions League qualification a year later.
'I messaged Rhys Williams and Nat Phillips because we wouldn't be there without them," Klopp told Sky Sports News in 2022. 'I remember the final game of last season and they left the pitch with a bandage around the head, cuts on their faces, and that was really a symbol for the whole period.
"We went through on one leg, with one eye… it was incredible. It was such a tough season. Hopefully nobody forgot how hard we fought to get here. We had no centre-halves, had to play midfielders in the last line, then had to use other players in midfield and nothing worked really.
'In the end, we played with two incredible players – Rhys and Nat – but we couldn't use them earlier because they needed time to adapt. So, yes, there was a bit of a point to prove and I'm really happy that the boys did that.'
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