Derby County urged to seal "no-brainer" Liverpool FC transfer agreement this summer | OneFootball

Football League World's resident Rams Fan Pundit has weighed in on Nat Phillips' future at Pride Park.

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more...

Derby County have a few more days to wait compared to the rest of the Championship before they can sink their teeth back into second tier football after the international break, as they look to break free of the shackles of the relegation zone.

John Eustace's side head into their clash against Preston North End on April 2 in excellent form, with the Rams winning their last three league matches and they know that they may just have the opportunity to move out of the bottom three with another victory.

The East Midlands outfit have improved greatly over the course of the last two months, with their head coach finally getting some of his key ideas across following a tough start to life at Pride Park and they head into their final eight games of the season full of confidence.

Staying in the Championship is imperative to Eustace's ideas for Derby in the coming months and years, and plans will have already started to be drawn up for the summer transfer window.

Derby urged to pursue permanent deal for Nat Phillips

It is relatively clear to see that the Rams are lacking in a number of departments right now, with injuries ripping through the heart of the team on countless occasions this season.

However, one area that they have not lacked cover over the course of 2024/25 is the defence, and Eustace has plenty of quality in the central positions - something that has ensured that the club are not rooted to the bottom of the table.

Nat Phillips is one of those players who have stood up to the plate at centre-back this season, and with his loan due to conclude at the end of the campaign, Football League World has asked their Derby Fan Pundit, Shaun Woodward, if the Rams should pursue a permanent deal for the 28-year-old.

He told FLW: "If Derby can stay in the Championship, I think it's an absolute no-brainer that we've got to do all we can to get him in and keep him, because hopefully there will be a feel-good factor at the club and he'll have been very much a part of that. So hopefully he'll be enjoying his time at Derby and he'll want to stay.

"I know he'd probably have to take quite a substantial pay cut to come to Derby, but I don't think he's going to get much of a better offer anywhere else, especially if we are in the Championship.

"He is going to be playing in a great stadium, great training facilities and with big crowds, so hopefully that'll sway him to stay with us."



Shaun continued: "He's looked really good, especially over the last couple of months. He looks like he's enjoyed his partnership with Matt Clarke, Sondre Langas and Craig Forsyth, whereas initially at the start of the season when he came in, he looked like he struggled a little bit. He didn't get much game time because of the form of Eiran Cashin and Curtis Nelson and he didn't look comfortable in a back three with them.

"But he's really come into his own in the last month since John Eustace came in and he's an absolutely class player to have.

"He's got the experience, and we've looked a real tough unit with all the big lads at the back and hopefully he'll stay and continue his good partnership with Clarke if we can keep him as well for next season."

Phillips looks at home with Derby

Phillips was invaluable for Liverpool during the 2020/21 campaign as they struggled with injuries, but following that incredible year, he has been forced to ply his trade out on loan with multiple clubs.

While Derby is only a temporary home for the defender right now, it is clear to see that he is really enjoying his football and he is a key part of Eustace's team.

With his contract at Liverpool set to expire in the summer, the Rams must push for a move for the soon-to-be free agent as they can ill-afford to be weakened defensively. He works well with Clarke and Langas, and bringing him in permanently saves the club time in searching for another centre-back.

However, any move would rely on Derby staying in the Championship, and they have eight games to keep themselves in the second tier, otherwise it would be near impossible to keep hold of Phillips on a permanent basis.