Pranav Nair
Manchester United starlet Brandon Williams closing in on loan switch to Southampton
According to The Athletic (Subscription Required), Manchester United starlet Brandon Williams is closing in on a loan switch to Southampton.
The 20-year-old was keen to move to St Mary’s last summer but the deal did not come to fruition. He stayed on at Old Trafford as a backup and made just five starts all season. It was an underwhelming campaign for the youngster who enjoyed a breakout season in 2019/20.
Williams is frustrated and feels one year of his career has been put on hold. It did not help matters that United rejected another opportunity to loan him out in January.
Williams has played most of his career at left-back but can also do a job on the other flank. Southampton is confident that they will get their man this summer. A major reason for the player seeking a move is the search for regular game time that is easier to come by at Southampton.
As things stand, the two clubs have held talks and good progress has been made. However, a loan fee, which United will insist on, is yet to be agreed to.
According to the report, Southampton manager Ralph Hasenuttl is a fan of the player. He has already assured the defender that he will find game time easier to come by.
It is unlikely that there would be a to-buy option included in the contract. Southampton hope to have Williams in for pre-season and are keen to have the deal wrapped up sooner than later. Williams was among the United players at Carrington on Monday for the first session back after the summer break.
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A move away on loan will help him not only gain more minutes but also reignite his development away from the spotlight. Despite his potential, Williams has much to iron out and there is little he can gain from staying on the fringes at United.
