Neco Williams Eyes Move to Manchester United Amid Liverpool's Interest

Neco Williams has made his move. Not on the pitch, but in his mind.

The Nottingham Forest full-back, once a highly rated academy graduate at Liverpool, is understood to be keen on joining Manchester United this summer, with the prospect of working under Michael Carrick a major pull, according to TEAMtalk.

It is a twist loaded with subplots. United want him. Forest want to keep him. And in the background, Liverpool stand to profit if he goes.

United circle as Williams weighs next step

On July 9, BBC Sport revealed that Manchester United had registered their interest in Williams and opened the door to a potential deal. The 25-year-old is currently in talks with Forest over a new contract, but the conversation has clearly become more complicated.

Forest, the BBC report stressed, remain confident he will agree to stay. That confidence is now being tested.

TEAMtalk’s latest update sharpens the picture: Williams is described as ready to join United in this window, with sources close to the player indicating that a move to Old Trafford “would particularly appeal” to him. This is despite his long association with Liverpool, the club where he came through the ranks and broke into senior football.

He has been a mainstay on the left for Forest over the past two seasons, while also offering cover at right-back. That versatility, coupled with his energy and aggression, makes him an attractive option in a market where reliable full-backs are expensive and scarce.

United are not alone. Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur have also expressed interest in the Wales international, but the pull of Old Trafford appears strongest. Williams is said to be “open to testing himself at a bigger club, particularly Manchester United”, with no formal bids yet on the table.

For now, it is positioning. But the direction of travel is clear.

Forest dig in as contract talks continue

Forest are not resigned to losing him. Talks over a new contract, including a pay rise, are ongoing. Williams is tied down until the summer of 2029, which gives the club significant leverage.

That long-term deal means Forest can demand a substantial fee if United, Newcastle or Spurs turn interest into a formal offer. For a club that has invested heavily since returning to the Premier League, this is exactly the kind of asset they cannot allow to leave cheaply.

The message from the City Ground is simple: they want him to stay, and they are prepared to back that stance with improved terms.

Whether that is enough, with United and others circling, is another matter.

Liverpool’s quiet stake in the story

There is another layer to this move. If Williams does go, Liverpool will be listening closely.

The full-back made 33 senior appearances for Liverpool, scoring six goals, before joining Forest in the summer of 2022. Transfer specialist Fabrizio Romano reported at the time that Liverpool inserted a 15% sell-on clause into the deal, with Forest paying a total fee of £17.5m including add-ons.

Any significant sale now, particularly to a club of United’s stature and spending power, would trigger a welcome windfall at Anfield. The numbers will matter.

For Liverpool, Williams was once a project. Now he could become a useful revenue stream as they continue to reshape their own squad.

INEOS era gathers pace at Old Trafford

All of this is happening against the backdrop of a busy summer at Manchester United under INEOS.

The club have already moved decisively in midfield, signing Andrey Santos from Chelsea for £50m and activating the £35m release clause in Youri Tielemans’ contract at Aston Villa. The pattern is emerging: younger, technically secure players with resale value and room to grow.

Williams fits that profile. At 25, with Premier League and international experience and the ability to operate on both flanks, he represents a plug-and-play option for a squad that has lacked depth and reliability in the full-back positions.

United’s interest, registered and now amplified by reports of the player’s willingness to join, feels entirely in step with their new recruitment strategy.

The next move belongs to the clubs. Forest must decide how hard they are willing to fight to keep him. United must decide how much they are prepared to pay. And Liverpool, quietly, will be hoping the numbers climb.

If Williams does walk out at Old Trafford in red again, it will not be Liverpool’s shade – but the echoes of his time at Anfield, and the clause they wrote into his departure, will still be felt.