West Ham 'set to push ahead with move for Liverpool's Nat Phillips'

West Ham ‘are set to push ahead with a January move for Liverpool defender Nat Phillips’ despite £10m-rated star being sidelined with a fractured cheekbone

  • West Ham need a centre-half after Angelo Ogbonna and Kurt Zouma injuries 
  • David Moyes’ side have reportedly identified Nathaniel Phillips as a top target
  • The 24-year-old has been sidelined after sustaining a fractured cheekbone 
  • Liverpool are thought to be looking for a permanent deal for a fee of about £10m

West Ham are reportedly prepared to push ahead with a January move for Liverpool defender Nat Phillips, despite his recent injury blow. 

David Moyes is keen to recruit a new central defender in January after his backline took a hit with Angelo Ogbonna and Kurt Zouma sidelined for lengthy spells.

The pair’s long-term injuries mean the Hammers have limited other defensive options, with Craig Dawson now 31, Ogbonna 33, and questions remaining over the reliability of Frenchman Issa Diop. 

Phillips is reportedly available when the transfer window opens next month but Liverpool will only agree to a permanent deal for an asking price of around £10million. 


West Ham boss David Moyes (L) is reportedly pushing ahead with a move for Nat Phillips (R)


 Central defenders Angelo Ogbonna (left) and Kurt Zouma (right) are sidelined for West Ham

The centre-back fractured his cheek bone during an impressive against AC Milan in Liverpool’s final Champions League group stage game. 

But, despite the injury, the Hammers are still plotting a move for the 24-year-old, who they have identified as a target, in January, according to The Evening Standard.

Reds boss Jurgen Klopp revealed he is hopeful Phillips will return to training this week. 

The defender will follow an individual training programme but Liverpool hope he could be fit again by early to mid-January.

The 24-year-old centre back shackled Zlatan Ibrahimovic (right) in the Reds’ 2-1 Champions League win against Italian giants AC Milan on Tuesday – one of his two appearances this season

Last week Klopp said: ‘[It is] not as bad as it could have been. No surgery, he can train pretty much from next week. How long it will take? Around four or five weeks.’ 

Phillips made 20 appearances for the Reds last term as he stepped in for defensive cover after Liverpool suffered an injury-decimated season with Virgil van Dijk, Joel Matip and Joe Gomez all sidelined. 

But Phillips has fallen down the pecking order at Anfield this season after the defensive trio returned from injury and Ibrahima Konate arrived in summer.  

Burnley’s James Tarkowski is also said to be of interest for West Ham but the Clarets would be unlikely to let him leave Turf Moor mid-season and, especially given interest from Saudi-funded Newcastle, would probably be out of reach financially too. 




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