Bournemouth boss Scott Parker has explained how he and the club managed to strike a deal with Liverpool to sign Nat Phillips.
The Reds centre-back left Anfield on transfer deadline day to seal a loan move to the Cherries until the end of the season.
Much talk throughout the January window was over a permanent move for Phillips, with it understood that Liverpool were seeking a fee of around £15million for his services.
However, no offer meeting that asking price was made, with two approaches being made in the window, one of which was from Watford.
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In the end, Phillips completed a deadline day loan move to Bournemouth, and Parker has revealed why the club went in for the centre-back.
"It was something we were in and around for 10 days," Parker told Dorset Live .
"We are fortunate that the opportunity came up. Steve Cook left and we brought in James Hill, who is a young player we want to develop.
"Then the weekend came against Hull and obviously Meps (Chris Mepham) got injured and you suddenly realise that you're one injury or a couple of injuries away from being quite light again in that position."
Parker went on to express his thanks that Liverpool allowed Phillips to move to the south coast on loan for the season.
The Bournemouth boss feels that he and the club were “lucky” to sign the defender, given the reported interest from the Premier League in the player.
"We felt it was an acquisition we could make what could add quality to us, bring experience and we were lucky that Liverpool has given us their player and trusted us with their player, even though there was a lot of talk around him going to the Premier League,” said Parker.
"Obviously, they feel that the best place for Nat at this present moment time is here and to keep developing. Fortunately, we got him."
