Klopp says he tried to sell off 23-year-old Liverpool player last week, so close to happening – HITC

Jurgen Klopp has revealed that Liverpool tried to sell Nat Phillips, but a ‘last second’ collapse ruined an Anfield move away.

The 23-year-old is suddenly a slightly more important player for Klopp after Virgil van Dijk was ruled out for the season earlier this week.

Liverpool failed to sign a replacement for Dejan Lovren in the summer, meaning that Phillips, who was on loan at Stuttgart last season, could be considered a viable central defense option for the German manager.

And Klopp has admitted this is a “great opportunity” for Phillips, after revealing that the Swansea City-linked defender came very close to leaving Merseyside last week.

He told The Echo: “Nat Phillips we thought he would be transferred, but at the last second it didn’t happen. We already brought him from Stuttgart for a game last season against Everton in which he did very well ”.

Phillips is back in the box at Liverpool, but if Fabinho plays the rest of the season like he did against Ajax, then there might be little chance for the great Bolton-born defender.

The Brazilian midfielder fell in central defense against the Dutch team in this week’s Champions League victory in Amsterdam.

And while it remains to be seen if Klopp will keep him there until January, when Liverpool will have a chance to sign another defender, the signs are really good in that regard.

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