CHERRIES’ chase of Nat Phillips continues, with the club believed to have made an offer to bring the Liverpool defender back to the Vitality Stadium on loan.

25-year-old Phillips finished last campaign with Cherries, making 17 appearances as the Dorset club earnt promotion to the Premier League.

As soon as the curtain fell on a successful season, questions began regarding the Bolton-born centre-back’s future.

The original loan deal that saw Phillips lent to Cherries did not include an option to make the move permanent, meaning both sides had to return to the negotiation table to thrash out new terms.

Reports from Liverpool’s end suggested that the Reds mulled over selling the central-defender, with the former Stuttgart loanee down the pecking order behind Virgil Van Dijk, Joel Matip, Ibrahima Konate and Joe Gomez.

Supposed fees ranged from £8 million up to £15 million, but Liverpool’s stance has since changed, with the European giants now opposed to allowing Phillips to leave permanently.

Cherries remain keen on the defender, and as such, have made an approach to sign Phillips on another loan deal, according to Sky Sports.

The deal would see Phillips remain for the entirety of next season, with Scott Parker keen to keep the centre-back partnership that finished last season together.

Whilst there has been no indication that there will be a clause allowing Cherries to sign Phillips permanently, a loan move could prove prudent, with Phillips still relatively unproven.

He is yet to reach 100 senior appearances, and has played 17 times in the Premier League.

A full-campaign in the top-flight would suit both parties, as it would allow Liverpool to properly gauge Phillips as a Premier League player.