Former Sunderland striker Kevin Phillips has backed West Ham United to scoop for the services of Nathaniel Clyne when his contract with Liverpool expires during the summer. The England international has struggled for regular gametime with the Reds over the past three years and during this period, he has suffered a couple of long-term injury setbacks.

Besides this, there has been the emergence of Trent Alexander-Arnold and that has further reduced his importance to the team. Speaking to Football Insider, Phillips said that Clyne has plenty of experience and he remains a quality player. He added that the right-back would want to play regularly to find his best form and a move to the Hammers could suit him.

He told: “You wonder what happened to Clyne. Over the years he has been a really good player but just disappeared really. He has got a lot of experience and we know he is a quality player. He would want to try and get back playing and get back to the form that he showed when he was at Southampton and first arrived at Liverpool. West Ham could be a good place to do that. I can see that happening.”

Pablo Zabaleta, Jeremy Ngakia, and Ryan Fredericks have featured in the right-back position for the Hammers this term. Zabaleta appears set to leave the club when his contract expires at the end of the campaign and the same appears the case with academy graduate Ngakia, who has turned down an extension beyond the summer.
In this case, Fredericks would need competition on the right side of the defence and Clyne could be the ideal signing for the Hammers. The former Southampton man has played no part for the Reds this term after sustaining anterior cruciate ligament injury during pre-season. He could, however, return to the playing field when the campaign resumes after the coronavirus shutdown.