Klopp to axe 'incredible' Liverpool star with younger also heading out
Nat Phillips and Calvin Ramsay both could leave Liverpool on loan this month, with a flurry of Championship clubs lining up moves for the out-of-favour duo.
Ahead of the Reds' Carabao Cup semi-final second leg trip to Fulham, Pep Lijnders confirmed that there is interest in Phillips and Ramsay and deals for both are likely to be struck before the end of the January transfer window. Phillips was recalled after spending the first half of the season at Celtic, while Ramsay returned to Liverpool following an injury-hit loan spell at Preston.
According to the Daily Mail, Cardiff and Blackburn are keen on signing Phillips, 26, who rarely featured for Celtic once they had their first-choice defenders fully fit. Leeds are also tracking Phillips as they search for centre-back cover, with Ethan Ampadu currently filling in for the injured Pascal Struijk.
Meanwhile, Leeds are leading the race to sign Ramsay, 20, after Djed Spence was sent back to Tottenham earlier this month. Southampton have also kept an eye on Ramsay, who made just two appearances while on loan at Preston. The Saints tried to sign him on a permanent deal when he moved from Aberdeen to Liverpool.
Phillips has endured a considerable drop off since playing a pivotal part in Liverpool's push for the Champions League during the 2020/21 season. The Bolton-born defender started 16 games in the Premier League that campaign and impressed alongside fellow youngster Rhys Williams during the run in.
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Speaking of the Phillips and Williams partnership at the time, Klopp said: "These two boys, playing like that, it is incredible, absolutely incredible. That was a proper crash course in a Premier League education, and they have learned so much. It's a sign for all our kids at Liverpool in the academy.
Nat Phillips spent the first half of the season on loan at Celtic (Getty Images)"It's possible - it shows it's possible... just work hard. These boys they are obviously not skilled like crazy, they had to work incredibly hard. And now they are proper, proper Premier League players. And that’s exactly how it can work. I am really happy for them."
However, following the return of Virgil van Dijk and Joel Matip from their respective injuries, Phillips' game time was significantly reduced in the following campaign. He ended up going out on loan to Bournemouth for the second half of the 2021/22 season in search of regular minutes as the Cherries eyed a return to the Premier League.
Calvin Ramsay in action for Preston last month (Getty Images)Phillips shone at Bournemouth and helped them return to the top-flight, though he returned to Liverpool ahead of last season and once again struggled for game time. The 26-year-old made eight appearances - including playing twice in the Champions League - for Celtic this season before being recalled.
As for Ramsay, he emerged as one of most promising talents in Scottish football after impressing for Aberdeen during the 2021/22 campaign. He secured a £4.2million move to Liverpool in June 2022 and, after making just two first-team appearances, he was sent on loan to Preston in the summer.
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