Liverpool’s Nat Phillips to join West Brom – But one Baggies star could pay the price | OneFootball

Albion bolstering their defensive ranks with Nat Phillips could spell trouble for the returning Caleb Taylor.

West Brom are set to kick off their summer transfer window activity by recruiting Liverpool defender Nat Phillips.

As per The Telegraph’s John Percy, the Baggies are set to bring the former Derby County defender to The Hawthorns on a permanent deal, with the 28-year-old featuring 32 times for the Rams last season.

The Black Country outfit are in need of defensive recruits after the departures of Semi Ajayi and Mason Holgate, with Phillips bringing a wealth of Championship experience to the table.

While it will be viewed as a positive addition to many, academy graduate Caleb Taylor may feel a different way as he returns to Albion following a successful spell away on loan at League One side Wycombe Wanderers.

The impending signing of Phillips will see West Brom have four central defensive options for Ryan Mason to choose from, meaning Taylor could be set for more heartache on the sidelines as he desperately tries to make a name for himself in the blue and white stripes.

West Brom defensive options could limit Caleb Taylor’s gametime

Prior to the Nat Phillips development, Caleb Taylor would have been optimistic over regular playing time under Ryan Mason, with only Kyle Bartley and Torbjorn Heggem to battle with for a starting spot.

Heggem would likely have kept his place in the fold anyway, given he is the only naturally left-footed central defender at the club, but Taylor may well have pipped Bartley due to the latter’s age and failure to sustain peak fitness levels towards the back end of last season.

It’s only natural for Bartley to slot into more of a bit-part role at the age of 34, but you have to feel Phillips will now step in to partner Heggem if Mason elects to play a back four, particularly as the former Liverpool man had such a superb individual season at Pride Park and built on his previous second tier stint with Cardiff City.

With Phillips and Heggem likely to be the preferred duo, it’s up to Mason to decide who will be third and fourth-choice, and if it is more of a bit-part role in the event of very little injuries, then the former Tottenham Hotspur coach may prefer the second tier knowhow of Bartley to come in and help get the team over the line in certain matches.

If this does come to fruition, then Taylor will be left stranded, with little hope of any regular game time, something that he would have hoped to avoid after proving his credentials in League One.

Caleb Taylor’s West Brom future hinges on Ryan Mason's tactical approach

While there is doom and gloom surrounding Caleb Taylor’s minutes under Ryan Mason, we do have to stress that this is all speculation, with the outside world unable to predict what system the 34-year-old will field his team in.

During his interim spells as Tottenham coach, Mason has opted to use a wide range of formations, varying from 4-2-3-1 and 4-4-2, to 3-4-1-2 and 3-4-3.

A back three would enhance Taylor’s chances of gaining minutes, with Nat Phillips also familiar with playing in that system, occupying the central role in a three-back setup under John Eustace at Derby.

The other question that will be raised is how Kyle Bartley would react if he was demoted to fourth choice. At his age, he will want assurances of some minutes after his contract was extended by a year, and this could cause some disruption in the camp that Mason doesn’t need.

Ultimately, playing time for Taylor hangs on either one of two key scenarios: Mason playing a back-three formation or Torbjorn Heggem leaving the club. If either of these scenarios fail to happen, then you have to feel the 6 ft 6in defender won’t be able to achieve his dream of representing the club on a consistent basis.

If so, then he must seek a permanent move away to a team that will value him and ensure he is one of the first names on the team sheet in order to help him thrive.

It will be intriguing to see if Mason does have Taylor in his immediate plans, with this term seemingly make or break for 22-year-old's West Brom future.