Exclusive: What Lee Hendrie thinks about West Brom sealing Liverpool transfer | OneFootball

Speaking exclusively with FLW, Lee Hendrie has been discussing West Brom's reported interest in Liverpool defender, Nat Phillips.

West Brom are reportedly interested in a move for Liverpool defender Nat Phillips this summer.

The Athletic have claimed that Albion, along with a number of Championship clubs, have a strong interest in signing the 28-year-old centre-back.

Phillips, a Liverpool academy graduate, is no stranger to second tier football, having spent the second half of the 2023/24 season on loan with Cardiff City, before enjoying a season-long loan stint with Derby County last season.

The defender also spent the second half of the 2021/22 season with Bournemouth, helping the Cherries win automatic promotion back to the Premier League, and he's also spent time with Stuttgart and Celtic.

"They've always had that" - Lee Hendrie makes West Brom, Nat Phillips transfer claim

Speaking exclusively with Football League World, we asked Sky Sports pundit and former player, Lee Hendrie: 'West Brom are strongly interested in a move for Liverpool centre-back Nat Phillips. Thoughts? Good potential signing for Albion?'

Hendrie said: "West Brom, I think this is where they're going to have to recruit well in the loan market.

"I think centre-back Nat Phillips would be a good signing for them. Having someone physical and having someone who's got a presence in defence - I think they've always had that, West Brom.

"I think a good potential signing for sure. Whether they play as a back four or back three, he can fit in and be that presence at the back.

"So yes, I think he'd be a good addition to West Brom for next season."

Nat Phillips could add some real strength in depth to West Brom's centre-back room

It does feel as though West Brom's centre-back options could do with being bolstered this summer.

Having lost Cedric Kipre to Reims last summer, and with 34-year-old Kyle Bartley the only other proven Championship option alongside Torbjørn Heggem, Albion are running short of numbers and experience at that position.

The club has already confirmed via their 24/25 retained list that 31-year-old Semi Ajayi will be leaving the club at the end of this month, landing another blow to the Baggies' options in that department.

Meanwhile, they will be boosted by the return of 22-year-old Caleb Taylor after a successful season-long loan stint with League One side Wycombe Wanderers, but the Albion academy graduate has yet to prove himself at second tier level.

As such, with a significant amount of Championship experience under his belt, and having made just shy of 30 first-team appearances for Liverpool, Phillips could be a real quality addition to West Brom's backline this summer.

He's proven himself to be a quality defender in the second tier on numerous stops, but perhaps played his best football at the level with Derby last season, where he made over 30 league appearances for the Rams.

Still only 28, he should still have plenty of good years left ahead of him too, and could establish himself as a real cornerstone piece in the Baggies' defensive structure moving forward.