Liverpool defender Nat Phillips signs for Bournemouth on loan

Liverpool have confirmed that defender Nat Phillips has signed for Bournemouth on loan until the end of the season.

The centre-back struggled to displace Joel Matip or Virgil van Dijk in the heart of the Reds' defence this term, while the arrival of Ibrahima Konate also pushed him down the pecking order.

Phillips earned plaudits for his performances during Liverpool's defensive crisis last season, but the 24-year-old will now spend the remainder of the season in the Championship.

Liverpool are reportedly primed to receive a loan fee of £1.5m for the deal, and an initial £250,000 will be paid if Bournemouth secure promotion back to the Premier League, according to Goal's Neil Jones.

Jones adds that Liverpool turned down proposals from Watford and Leicester City earlier in the window, with the Hornets seeking a loan-to-buy deal while Brendan Rodgers's men wanted a temporary deal.

Phillips has registered one goal and one assist in 24 appearances for Liverpool, but he only made three appearances for the Reds in the first half of the 2021-22 season, none of which came in the Premier League.