Manchester United Target Neco Williams for Full-Back Rebuild

Manchester United’s summer rebuild is accelerating, and the search for a new full-back has taken them somewhere few at Old Trafford would have predicted: towards a former Liverpool defender.

Neco Williams, now a key figure at Nottingham Forest, has emerged as a target, with United registering their interest as talks over a new deal at the City Ground continue. The move is at an early stage, but the intent is clear. United want a right-back, and they are prepared to be bold to get one.

Carrick’s Champions League pull

Michael Carrick steered United to third place in the Premier League last season, and with Champions League football back on the menu, the club believes this is the moment to upgrade the squad decisively.

The plan is ambitious. At least two midfielders, possibly three. A full-back. A left-winger. That’s the minimum shopping list for this window.

Two of those midfield slots are already close to being filled. Andrey Santos has completed his medical and signed his contract with United, as confirmed by Fabrizio Romano, with only the official announcement to follow. A significant box ticked.

Ederson is more complicated. The Atalanta midfielder has already undergone an initial medical check in the United States, but concerns over a previous knee injury have prompted the club to call for further tests in England. Romano explained that Ederson will have another medical in the UK this week, with United’s own staff running detailed checks before they give the final green light.

The agreement with Atalanta and the player is in place. The deal is verbally done. But United will not sign off until they are satisfied with the medical data. For now, it remains poised rather than completed.

Williams on the radar

While those midfield negotiations play out, United have quietly started to move on the full-back front.

Sami Mokbel reported that both Newcastle and Manchester United have registered their interest in Neco Williams, with Forest still in talks over a new contract for the Wales international. United have made contact, testing the waters as they assess their options on the right side of defence.

Williams, once a prospect at Liverpool, has rebuilt his career at Forest, where his energy, delivery and versatility have drawn admirers. For United, he would represent a modern, attack-minded option in a position that has lacked consistency.

The dynamic is intriguing. Forest are negotiating from a position of relative calm. They are not under pressure to sell and are prepared to listen only if the price is right. United, meanwhile, must decide how aggressively they want to move, with Newcastle also in the frame.

Kone joins midfield shortlist

Midfield remains the central theme of United’s window, and another name has been added to the list.

According to Corriere Dello Sport, United are weighing up a move for France international Manu Kone, currently at Roma. The report describes Kone as one of the most attractive options on the market for United, who are continuing their search for reinforcements in the middle of the pitch.

Roma value Kone at €50 million and are open to offers that meet that figure. There is no urgency on their side, no need to force a sale, but a clear understanding that a serious bid could change the landscape quickly.

For United, it presents a familiar question: how far are they willing to push, and how many midfielders do they truly want to bring through the door in a single window?

The picture is starting to form. Santos signed. Ederson under scrutiny. Kone monitored. Williams targeted. A squad that finished third is being reshaped with Champions League nights in mind.

The next decision is whether they turn interest in Neco Williams into a concrete bid—and how much they are prepared to pay to prise a former Liverpool defender away from a club in no hurry to let him go.