Liverpool Echo journalist Paul Gorst has provided an update on the future of Liverpool full-back Neco Williams, who has recently been linked with a move away from Anfield in the search of regular first-team football.
Williams has spent the most part of his senior career playing second fiddle to Trent Alexander-Arnold, but with the defender potentially set to be Liverpool’s right-back for years to come, Williams has seen his game time limited as he only made 14 appearances in all competitions last season.
Speaking to The Anfield Wrap about the reports linking Williams away, Gorst had this update to give:
“I think Jurgen Klopp is a big fan of him, you know, he’s a 20-year-old, fully-fledged international and has been for a couple of years, playing backup to the first choice in Trent Alexander-Arnold – that’s probably quite difficult to find, isn’t it, really, at a club like Liverpool.
“I don’t think there’s any kind of desire from the club to shunt him out and bring in a replacement. It’s very much just down to the player himself and whether he wants to play a little bit more than he has been of late.
“If there are offers and there is interest – I think Leeds and Southampton have been mentioned – Liverpool are looking for around about £10m and they’d happily let them go. But I don’t think there’s any kind of desire from inside the club to force him out. It will be very much you know, if offers arrive and if you’re happy to go, then we’ll pat you on the back and off you go.
“It was a bit of a surprise one, I must admit.”
TIF Thoughts on Neco Williams leaving…
Williams’ apparent frustrations are understandable given that he has had to play second fiddle to Alexander-Arnold for large parts of his Anfield career to date, despite being a regular figure in Wales’ international side.
Williams has featured in 25 games for the senior Liverpool side, assisting three goals in that time as well as collecting a FIFA Club World Cup medal and a Premier League one, too as he was part of the side that helped the Reds claim their first league title since 1990.
Currently valued at £7.2million by Transfermarkt, the £10m fee Gorst has suggested could be a good piece of business for Liverpool – particularly for a player that has arguably yet to set the world alight.