---
title: "Virals: West Ham ‘register interest’ in Liverpool defender Nat Phillips"
canonical: "https://readwestham.com/2021/07/24/virals-west-ham-register-interest-in-liverpool-defender-nat-phillips/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Dan Clubbe"
section: "West Ham News"
published: "2021-07-24T08:00:00Z"
modified: "2021-07-24T08:00:00Z"
---

# Virals: West Ham ‘register interest’ in Liverpool defender Nat Phillips

[West Ham](https://readwestham.com/2021/07/23/virals-west-ham-target-sam-johnstone-undergoes-dramatic-price-cut/)have reportedly ‘registered their interest’ in Liverpool defender [Nat Phillips](https://readwestham.com/2021/07/22/virals-west-ham-could-move-for-liverpool-defender-nat-phillips/) during this summer transfer window.

The 24-year-old was a surprise star at the tail end of the 2020/21 campaign as the then defending Premier League champions rallied to [finish third](https://www.premierleague.com/tables).

Thrown into the side on the back of a [string of crippling defensive injuries](https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/12206038/joel-matip-liverpool-defender-to-miss-remainder-of-2020-21-premier-league-season-with-ankle-ligament-injury#:~:text=Liverpool%20defender%20Joel%20Matip%20will,subsequently%20substituted%20at%20half%2Dtime.), Phillips shone at the heart of an often makeshift defence.

Now, as Liverpool [welcome star names back to fitness](https://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/van-dijk-gomez-matip-return-liverpool-squad-pre-season-camp/12m7vh7ikry0e1lvh2nr1quv0s) and add Ibrahima Konate to their ranks, the centre-back has an uncertain future.

According to a report from [The Athletic](https://theathletic.com/2715844/2021/07/23/suddenly-jurgen-klopp-and-liverpool-are-facing-a-very-different-kind-of-defensive-dilemma/), as cited by [Anfield Watch](https://twitter.com/AnfieldWatch/status/1418827333830680588) on Twitter, the Hammers and a host of other top clubs have made their admiration known.

> Twitter: ![🚨](https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/13.1.0/svg/1f6a8.svg) NEW: Bayer Leverkusen and West Ham have registered their interest in Nat Phillips in recent days, joining the lik… https://t.co/sLGVSMKrRq (@AnfieldWatch)

The report claims the [no-nonsense defender](https://www.whoscored.com/Players/381527/Show/Nathaniel-Phillips) is valued at around the £15million mark and bids in that region could force a sale.

Having spent the previous campaign on loan at VfB Stuttgart, Phillips earned an impressive average [Sofascore rating of 7.19](https://www.sofascore.com/player/nathaniel-phillips/920393) from 17 Premier League outings last season.

[Described](https://talksport.com/football/782338/messi-jurgen-klopp-nathaniel-philips-liverpool-west-ham/) as a ‘monster’ by Jurgen Klopp, the 6’2 ace was almost as [impressive](https://www.sofascore.com/player/nathaniel-phillips/920393) during three Champions League outings.

### READ WEST HAM VERDICT

Signing a central defender is certainly high on David Moyes’ list of priorities at the London Stadium this summer following [Fabian Balbuena’s exit](https://www.whufc.com/news/articles/2021/june/04-june/retained-list-issued-fabian-balbuena-depart#:~:text=West%20Ham%20United%20has%20issued,the%20Hammers%2C%20scoring%20three%20goals.).

Given the relatively [small sample size](https://www.premierleague.com/players/14051/Nathaniel-Phillips/overview) of Phillips in the top flight, it’s difficult to suggest the Englishman would be the ideal candidate.

However, having [sufficiently impressed](https://www.liverpoolfc.com/news/first-team/434196-nat-phillips-and-rhys-williams-have-created-proper-careers-now) to forge a career, the Irons could certainly do a lot worse for the mooted fee.

A [threat in both boxes](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3EqBj1ImkLk), Moyes should seriously consider meeting the £15million asking price.