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The transfer window is officially open, and John Eustace will quickly be looking to put together a squad that will allow Derby County to compete further up the table in the Championship in 2025/26.
With a new appointment on the financial side of things at Pride Park, the Rams are ready to power ahead into the summer after CEO Stephen Pearce laid out the club’s transfer plans.
Eustace knows where Derby need to improve, and bringing in attacking players will be a priority – especially a new striker. However, he will also be keen to add to the defence, with Craig Dawson linked with a move to the East Midlands.
But the Rams ended the season with a very strong defensive trio, and after Matt Clarke signed a new contract in May, there is one more face that needs to be added back and they will be boosted by a fresh update on his future.
Nat Phillips is set to leave Liverpool
Nat Phillips joined Derby on a loan deal until the end of the season last August, and after a slow start to life in black-and-white, he quickly became a key player in DE24.
After Eiran Cashin was sold to Brighton & Hove Albion for a fee that BBC Sport reported to be £9m, the Liverpool centre-back became a focal point of the defence alongside Sondre Langas and Clarke, who joined from Middlesbrough in January.
EFL Analysis revealed last month that the Rams are extremely keen on bringing Phillips back to Pride Park this summer, and it has now been reported by The Athletic that the 28-year-old is one of three Liverpool players likely to depart in the coming weeks in search of a fresh challenge.
With the former Bolton Wanderers youngster set to become a free agent, Derby have the perfect opportunity to take advantage and rebuild the successful back three that ensured their Championship survival in 2024/25.
John Eustace will want to move quickly on any Nat Phillips deal
As such an integral part of his team last season, it will not come as a surprise if Phillips is signed by Eustace, but there will be competition for his signature and the Rams will have to move quickly.
They have already had a positive start to the transfer window, and the departure of Nathaniel Mendez-Laing to MK Dons shows that Derby are looking to move on from the team that helped take them out of League One, as they progress into a new era.
As per Derbyshire Live, Eustace called Phillips an ‘outstanding’ defender following his crucial goal against Hull City in April, and if he can get this deal over the line, then supporters will be very excited for what comes next this summer.