Liverpool have plans for Neco Williams next season, according to one journalist. The Reds hope the 20-year-old will benefit from returns.
This comes from the Liverpool Echo’s Paul Gorst. He claims Liverpool have plans for Neco Williams and the full-backs next season.
“I think the plan for Williams is for him to stay put,” said Gorst. “He’s only 20 and a fully-fledged international.
“It cost Liverpool around £11m for an Andy Robertson back-up last summer in Konstantinos Tsimikas, so loaning Williams would need them to get one for the right side too.
“The hope is that a lack of injured centre-backs might allow more rotation in full-back areas next season.”
Neco Williams plans
Gorst makes two good points here. Firstly, it really isn’t financially beneficial to loan or even sell Williams this summer.
It would leave a clear gap behind Trent Alexander-Arnold at a bad time – he’s currently recovering from injury right now, of course.
Tsimikas costing £11m is a fine example of what it would take to replace Williams. We’re not entirely sure Liverpool would find a better player for that much, either. Certainly not someone with more potential than the Welshman.
And the point about returning players is a good one, too. Liverpool will certainly hope that they can be a little more solid next season and allow more room for rotation.
Having Nat Phillips, Ozan Kabak, Rhys Williams and Fabinho as centre-back options made it difficult to throw in Williams and Tsimikas. Liverpool needed Alexander-Arnold and Robertson on the pitch to offer experience and know-how.
Hopefully, though, Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez and Joel Matip are back next season. They can help Williams through games and that should mean Jurgen Klopp takes more chances on him.
We certainly hope so. Williams is starting to look like a great squad option.
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