Man Utd outcast Brandon Williams ‘open to leaving on loan transfer’ after falling down pecking order at Old Trafford
BRANDON WILLIAMS could leave Manchester United on loan before next week’s transfer deadline, according to reports.
The full-back has made just one appearance for the Red Devils in the last 18 months.
Williams, 22, played 50 times for Man United under former boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
He was loaned out to Norwich City at the start of last season in order to gather more first-team experience.
The homegrown defender was relegated with the Canaries and returned to Old Trafford with an injury last summer.
Williams previously backed up Luke Shaw at United, but Tyrell Malacia’s arrival last year pushed him further down the pecking order.
According to the Manchester Evening News, Williams is “open” to moving out on loan for the rest of the season.
He has 18 months remaining on his Man United contract, with the Red Devils able to add another year.
Life under Erik ten Hag got off to a difficult start for Williams, who missed out on an opportunity to impress the Dutchman on United’s summer tour of Thailand and Australia through injury.
He was subsequently absent for the start of the season, but recovered in time to feature on the Red Devils’ mid-season trip to Spain during the World Cup.
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Ten Hag handed him his first appearance of the season during the 2-0 League Cup win over Burnley, bringing him on for the final five minutes.
He was then an unused substitute for Prem matches against Nottingham Forest and Wolves.
While in Spain with United last month, Williams reflected on his season so far.
He told United’s club media: “Yeah, it’s been good. It’s been good to get back out on the pitch. I miss what I do.
“Seeing the boys train, fly out to countries… Pre-season and stuff by myself it was hard and difficult.
Norwich was a fantastic year for me personally, on and off the pitch
Brandon Williams
“But – thanks to the physios and my team-mates and the people behind the scenes who have helped me a lot, helped with my mentality, not just with my body as well – I feel good, I feel great and it’s good to be back now.”
On his time out on loan, he added: “Norwich was a fantastic year for me personally, on and off the pitch. I learned a lot off the pitch because it’s so far away from home.
“Everything’s in Manchester for me, but when I settled in I was fine, I was flying.
“I got an injury towards the end and then I got an injury which has kept me out now, so the start and the end part weren’t that good but the middle definitely helped me as a player.
“It helped me off the pitch, on the pitch and I went there and I got what I wanted, which was game time.”