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Southampton approach Liverpool for Neco Williams - Sky Sports
Southampton have made an approach for Liverpool defender Neco Williams this summer, according to a new report from Sky Sports.
The Wales international is attracting strong interest after spending the 2021/22 season on loan at Championship winners Fulham.
The Cottagers are apparently “remain the favourites” to get the 21-year-old back during the window, while Nottingham Forest’s Steve Cooper wants him to replace Djed Spence who appears to be on the way to Tottenham.
As well as the contact from Saints there has also been an inquiry from the Eredivisie, where PSV have previously wanted him on loan and have checked on his availability.
Those at Anfield want around £20million, and while the new interest from St Mary’s is considered strong, the player enjoyed playing for Marco Silva in West London so could end up back there.
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Aberdeen teenager Calvin Ramsay’s arrival as Trent Alexander-Arnold’s back-up was confirmed on Sunday (19 June), making Williams’ prospects under Jurgen Klopp even smaller.
The interest from Southampton continues the pattern set in the 2021/22 season of bringing young players from a Big Six side to the club, after the success of Armando Broja and Tino Livramento who were signed from Chelsea on loan and permanent deals respectively.
Should the approach advance into an actual move it would reverse the pipeline of talent moving the other direction, which has seen the likes of Virgil van Dijk, Sadio Mane, Adam Lallana and Nathaniel Clyne among others head to Anfield over the last decade.
Williams already has 21 international caps, but has little chance to overhaul Alexander-Arnold, and with Ramsay three years younger the Scot makes more sense as a back-up going forward.
The suggested fee of £20million sounds slightly steep for a player so clearly surplus to requirements, but the Reds have the benefit of interest from multiple sources.
And if they can get that for a player who has made 32 total appearances for the club they will have made a healthy profit in swapping him for the new signing.
In other Liverpool news, Ramsay has arrived in a £6.5million deal.