West Ham and Newcastle vying for Liverpool defender?

West Ham United and Newcastle United could go head-to-head to sign Liverpool defender Nathaniel Phillips next month.

Phillips recently produced a stunning performance against AC Milan in the Champions League, and he was lauded by Jurgen Klopp.

Despite this, there is immense speculation over his future. He has played just 144 minutes for the Reds across all competitions this term.

According to Evening Standard, the centre-back could lean towards a move away from Anfield in the search for regular first-team football.

The Hammers are keen on pursuing his services with Kurt Zouma (hamstring) and Angelo Ogbonna (knee) picking up long-term injuries.

However, they are set to face stiff competition from the Magpies, who are expected to go on a spending spree after their Saudi-led takeover.

The Tyneside outfit may have the advantage over the Hammers as they could pay a significant transfer fee and hand a big salary to the player.

Meanwhile, the Reds may refuse to do business with David Moyes' side as they regard them as potential top-four rivals this season.