A former Premier League defender has put out a potential explanation for why Liverpool decided to loan Nat Phillips to Celtic only through the month of January rather than for the entire 2023–24 season.
The 26-year-old was hired by the Hoops to help a defensive injury issue, but is expected to return to Anfield in the winter. He briefly joined Brendan Rodgers’ team last month.
Football Insider suggested to Alan Hutton that the Scottish champions may have only wanted a half-season loan while waiting for the other defenders to fully recover from injury.
The right-back, a former Tottenham player, suggested that Liverpool might have suggested the length of the transfer, saying: “It might also be from Liverpool’s point of view – do they want to sell him on? Do they wish to be charged? That might occur in January. Was it almost going to occur in the summer?
There can be several things happening in the background. We’ll have to wait and see whether he takes off and performs well, but it might be a permanent move for Celtic. It’s intriguing that Hutton claims Liverpool might have only consented to Phillips’ half-season loan move with a view to perhaps selling him outright in January.
The Championship teams Leeds and Middlesbrough had been heavily associated with the 26-year-old player before Celtic made their move; the Reds still hold the rights to his contract, which is slated to expire in 2025 (Transfermarkt).
His best chance to re-enter Jurgen Klopp’s consideration after missing preseason due to injury has now passed, and Jarell Quansah has joined the senior center-back trio of Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konate, Joe Gomez, and Joel Matip.
The fact that Liverpool made a strong effort to buy Levi Colwill as a central defender during the summer transfer window further revealed how difficult it would be for Phillips to regain his place in the first-team rotation at Anfield.
It’s possible that the loan agreement was just made to suit Celtic’s needs until their injured players returned, but Hutton’s idea that the Reds would try to sell in January makes sense.
