REPORT: Southampton Tracking Brandon Williams

Southampton Tracking Brandon Williams

Brandon Williams Falls Down the Pecking Order

It was reported that Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side had approached United earlier in the summer for the young defender but for the deal to be blocked by Ole Gunnar Solksjaer at the time. The player himself was willing to leave Old Trafford for game time.

The 20-year broke into the first-team set up under Solksjaer but has seen his chances diminish this season with Luke Shaw starting the season well before the injury, plus the arrival of Alex Telles from Porto for £18 million.

Versatility

He has featured twice this season for the Red Devils with both appearances in the Carabao Cup and the Saints are hoping the versatile defender can provide adequate back-up in a position Southampton are not well stocked in.

Williams has shown during his break out season he is a full-back who can use both feet and play on either side, leaving him as an appealing option to cover both Ryan Bertrand and Kyle Walkers-Peters.

United Now Better Stocked

It could now be the right time for United to allow the young defender to gain first-team experience after spending the majority of the season so far with the U23s. Circumstances for Solksjaer at left-back are now better off after Telles’ arrival; which was looming in the balance before finally arriving on deadline day. Williams was impressive last season in his 17 Premier League appearances but has featured only twice in matchday squads this term, both as an unused substitute.

The England youth international did put pen to paper on a new long-term deal back in August to stay at Old Trafford but with Telles making his Premier League debut for the Red Devils in the 1-0 win over West Bromwich Albion over the weekend, it is no surprise several clubs are chasing his signature on loan according to The Athletic.