Ipswich Town are close to completing a loan move for versatile 22-year-old Manchester United defender Brandon Williams.
According to Football Insider, Brandon Williams is edging closer to joining Ipswich Town on loan from Manchester United. The deal will likely have a buy option for the Championship side to consider, as the versatile 22-year-old has no place in Erik ten Hag’s plans.
At one stage, Brandon Williams looked like a promising talent and could have made it big at Manchester United. However, he has not developed as the club chiefs may have wanted, and he steadily became an unwanted player at Old Trafford.
He has made more than 50 senior appearances for the club. But Williams will not get a game this season, considering the options at Erik ten Hag’s disposal. Hence, moving along would suit the versatile 22-year-old defender, with Ipswich Town closing in on a deal.
Earlier in the window, Leeds United were keen on Williams, but now Ipswich have taken on the mantle to bring the 22-year-old. There is concrete talk about a loan deal, which could have a buy option at the end of the season.
Negotiations between Ipswich Town and Manchester United for Brandon Williams are advancing. Loan deal to include buy option clause 🔴 #MUFC
Williams, in the list of players expected to leave Man United by the end of the window. pic.twitter.com/yfaVWiXHDI
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 23, 2023
Ipswich will favour such a deal as they could trigger the option if the team achieves promotion next summer. With Williams, they will have a player with decent knowledge of the Premier League, considering he has previously featured for Manchester United and Norwich City.
Ipswich have already signed Chelsea forward Omari Hutchinson on a loan deal and added Manchester City U21 keeper Cieran Slicker in this window. Bringing in Williams improves their squad and bolsters the defence, with the 22-year-old’s versatility likely to bolster their backline.
Manchester United may not dip into the market to find a replacement for Williams. Ten Hag already has Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia as his first-choice options. However, they may continue searching for a right-sided versatile defender, as they have lost the race to sign Benjamin Pavard to Inter Milan.
Losing Williams to a loan deal with a buy option seems like a decent deal for Manchester United. The full-back still has a year left with a club option for another season. Hence, the Red Devils will protect whatever value he has in the market and trigger the option if Ipswich do not sign him permanently.
