Liverpool defender seals Championship loan for remainder of season

Liverpool centre-back Nat Phillips has joined Cardiff City on loan for the remainder of the season.

Phillips, 26, spent the first half of the season on loan with Scottish giants Celtic but was recalled earlier this month after playing just over 400 minutes across ten appearances.

Liverpool received plenty of interest from a number of Championship sides, and it is Cardiff who have won the race to sign Phillips on loan for the remainder of the campaign.

"I think it’s a great stadium, a great city and a big club," Phillips said when joining Cardiff. "I think the club has ambitions to compete, and we’re in a decent position in the league. That made it an exciting move."

Phillips does have experience in the Championship. He played 17 times for Bournemouth during the second half of the 2021/22 campaign, helping steer the Cherries back to the Premier League.

Phillips has 18 months remaining on his Liverpool contract and could be sold this summer upon his return from Cardiff, particularly as the Reds look to make a splash on a new centre-back to add to their depth.

A decision will have to be made on Joel Matip, whose deal runs until the summer, while Virgil van Dijk has admitted his uncertainty over his future at Anfield in the wake of Jurgen Klopp's upcoming departure.

Liverpool have been busy finding loans for a number of players in recent days, with full-back Owen Beck also departing on Tuesday.

Beck rejoined Dundee, having impressed there during the first half of the season before being recalled as emergency cover while Liverpool were without senior left-back duo Andy Robertson and Kostas Tsimikas.

With Robertson nearing a recovery, however, the decision was made to send Beck back up to Scotland.

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