Bournemouth ‘agree a deal’ to sign Liverpool defender on loan

Championship side Bournemouth have ‘agreed a deal’ with Liverpool to sign their defender Nat Phillips on loan until the end of the season, according to reports.

The centre-back impressed for Liverpool last season while they were without Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez and Joel Matip.

Phillips played 17 times in the Premier League during the 2020/21 campaign. He has fallen down the pecking order this term though.

F365’s January transfer deadline day – and it’s LIVE!

The 24-year-old has only started one game this campaign. That came in the Champions League group stages against AC Milan.

The defender has been linked with Newcastle United and Watford this month.

Sky Sports are reporting that Bournemouth have now ‘agreed a deal’ to sign Phillips on loan.

Their report adds that the Championship outfit are also ‘still interested’ in his Liverpool teammate Neco Williams.

The Wales international has played eight times this season. But he is yet to start in the Premier League in 2021/22.

Elsewhere, former Liverpool fan favourite Dirk Kuyt has praised Diogo Jota for his performances since his move from Wolves in 2020:

“His goals at Arsenal, of course, secured Liverpool’s spot at Wembley, and it was hugely encouraging to see him as such a goal threat even when playing out wide.

“Jota probably prefers and has better opportunities to score when he’s playing in the centre of the front line. But players up front these days can play in every position and still be effective in the penalty area.

“That said, it can be difficult to be shifted out wide when you’re a striker by nature. Obviously everyone knows I arrived at Liverpool as a centre-forward and was used there by Rafa Benitez during my first season.

“I was the club’s top scorer in the Premier League in 2006-07 but was then put out on the right for the following campaign. You’ve got to change your mindset because the team asks something different from you.

“Anyway, I think in Klopp’s system every attacker – even those out wide – has many possibilities to score goals. Jota and Oxlade-Chamberlain have proven that in the last week or so.

“What a great signing Jota has been. His arrival in September 2020 just gave the feeling that even the top players – the brilliant front three – had to fight for their place in the team. Competition like that is so helpful.

“He’s incredibly important for Liverpool and scores important goals, too – a handy trait for sides going for trophies.”