Neco Williams: Manchester United Interest Grows
Neco Williams has heard the noise. Newcastle United like him. Tottenham Hotspur like him. Nottingham Forest want to lock him down on a new deal.
But one name cuts through everything else: Manchester United.
Williams eyes Old Trafford – and Carrick
According to fresh reports, the Wales international is ready to join United this summer, with the pull of working under Michael Carrick a major factor. For a player shaped by Liverpool’s academy and steeped in Anfield habits, the idea of crossing the divide to Old Trafford is striking enough. Choosing to do so to play for a former United midfielder only sharpens the edge.
BBC Sport revealed on July 9 that United had registered their interest in Williams and that the defender was already in talks with Forest over a new contract. Forest, for their part, remain confident he can be persuaded to stay. They have every reason to fight: he is under contract until 2029 and has become a key figure, primarily at left-back over the past two seasons, while also offering cover on the right.
Now TEAMtalk’s update has turned the temperature up. Sources close to the player say a move to United “would particularly appeal” to Williams. At 25, with two full Premier League seasons at Forest behind him, he is described as keen to test himself at a “bigger club, particularly Manchester United”. No formal offers are on the table yet, but the direction of travel is clear enough.
A three-way chase – with Forest digging in
United are not alone. Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur have also been credited with serious interest in the former Liverpool defender. Both clubs are searching for full-backs who can handle the physical and tactical demands of modern Premier League football, and Williams’ versatility makes him an attractive option.
Forest know that too well. They have moved to open talks over a new deal, including a pay rise, to keep him at the City Ground. For a club constantly walking the tightrope of Premier League survival and financial balance, losing a starting full-back in his prime would be a major blow – unless the fee is eye-watering.
And that’s where Liverpool come back into the story.
Liverpool’s quiet stake in the saga
Williams is not just any Forest asset. He is also a potential windfall for Liverpool.
The defender came through Liverpool’s youth ranks and broke into the senior side, making 33 appearances and scoring six goals before leaving in the summer of 2022. When he joined Forest, transfer specialist Fabrizio Romano reported that the deal totalled £17.5m, add-ons included, and crucially, that Liverpool inserted a 15% sell-on clause.
With Williams tied down until 2029, Forest are in a strong position to demand a substantial fee if they do decide to sell. Any sizeable move – especially to a club like United – would send a meaningful slice of that sum back to Anfield. For Liverpool, watching a former academy graduate potentially head to their fiercest rivals would sting emotionally, but the balance sheet would tell a different story.
United’s rebuild gathers pace
For United, Williams is another piece in a wider rebuild already in motion under the INEOS regime. The club have paid £50m to sign Brazil midfielder Andrey Santos from Chelsea and have triggered the £35m release clause in Youri Tielemans’ contract at Aston Villa.
Those moves hint at a clear strategy: younger, hungry players, with Premier League experience where possible, and resale value baked in. Williams fits neatly into that profile. Premier League-proven, entering his peak years, comfortable on both flanks, and with the engine to play the aggressive, front-foot style United are trying to restore.
Forest’s stance is firm. The player’s desire is hardening. Liverpool wait in the background, calculators ready.
If United decide to turn interest into a formal bid, the next move in this story won’t just reshape one back line – it could ripple through three Premier League clubs at once.
