Liverpool have stepped up their move for Jurgen Klopp’s favorite after a major announcement

Recent managerial appointment at Burnley could see them step up their interest in Liverpool defender Nat Phillips this summer, with the Reds setting their asking price for the centre-back.

The Clarets are one of a handful of teams said to be interested in signing Phillips this summer, with Liverpool reportedly rejecting a £4m bid from Turkish side Trabzonspor for the 27-year-old. The Reds are reportedly looking for a fee closer to £8m.

Phillips spent last season on two different loan spells, spending the first half of the campaign with Celtic before securing a move to Cardiff City for the second half of the campaign. He made 18 league appearances for the Bluebirds, scoring just once.

READ MORE: Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold shows true colors after England dare

READ MORE: Liverpool plot £59m Manchester United hijack as transfer cuts loom

He could return to the league this summer, with Burnley’s interest now given a possible boost with the appointment of Scott Parker. The former Fulham and Bournemouth boss was confirmed as Burnley manager last week, taking over from Vincent Kompany, who left for Bayern Munich.

Parker’s appointment could set up a potential reunion with Phillips after a successful loan spell for the Bournemouth player in the second half of the 2021/22 season. The defender has been a regular for the Cherries as they have secured their place back in the Premier League under Parker.

Speaking in August 2022, Parker was full of praise for Phillips and expressed his desire to make the move permanent for the player that summer. “He was a big part of what we did at the end of last year,” he said.

“We brought him in in January and he’s been a driving force for us in promotion. An unbelievable professional, exceptional player in his moments.”

Although a move did not materialize that summer, Parker’s appointment could give Burnley an advantage over their rivals in the transfer race. This could be good news for Liverpool as well, with the manager likely to push his club to try and meet the Reds’ £8m asking price.

Phillips was liked by former Reds boss Jurgen Klopp, with the German describing his impact with fellow defender Rhys Williams at the end of the 2020/21 season as “incredible”. “These two guys, playing like that, it’s unbelievable, absolutely unbelievable,” he said.

“This was a proper crash course in a Premier League education and they learned so much. It’s a sign for all our Liverpool kids in the academy.

“It’s possible – it’s showing it’s possible… they just work hard. These guys obviously aren’t clever like crazy, they’ve had to work incredibly hard. And now they’re proper Premier League players. And that’s exactly how it can work. .I’m very happy for them.”