Nottingham Forest have agreed on personal terms with Liverpool defender Neco Williams, according to a report from Football Insider.
The lowdown: Wanted man
The right-back has been at the centre of a transfer tug of war this summer as Premier League trio Southampton, Fulham and Forest all vie for his services.
The 21-year-old spent the second half of the 2021/22 campaign on loan at the Cottagers, helping them towards their Championship title success with two goals and two assists in 14 appearances.
Set to return to Liverpool for pre-season, Williams appears likely to move before the start of the new campaign after the FA Cup winners signed Calvin Ramsay from Aberdeen this summer, and the City Ground could now be the Wales international's next destination...
The latest: 'Agreed personal terms'
As per Football Insider, Williams is believed to have 'agreed personal terms' with Nottingham Forest ahead of a switch during the ongoing transfer window.
It's claimed that a 'Forest source' has informed the outlet of the agreement over a 'lucrative long-term contract' which would bring the 21-cap star to the Reds.
The report added that the two clubs are yet to reach a suitable fee for both parties, with a £15m price tag proving to a 'major stumbling block' for the City Ground outfit, but a move is now 'agreed in principle' to sign the man who was recently branded an 'elite player in the making' by journalist Paul Abbandonato.
The verdict: Money well spent
Even at the mooted £15m asking price, signing Williams would be a superb piece of business from the Forest hierarchy as Steve Cooper attempts to restock the full-back positions which have been left decimated for various reasons from last term.
En route to promotion, the Reds had loanees Djed Spence and Max Lowe carrying out pivotal roles on either flank, but both have now returned to their parent clubs Middlesbrough and Sheffield United respectively.
Predominantly a conventional right-back, Williams also regularly operates as a left-wing back for Wales and has played in more advanced roles for Liverpool previously, showcasing a versatility which would be of great benefit to the City Ground ranks.
Already boasting Champions League, top-level Premier League and soon-to-be World Cup experience, the Wrexham-born starlet would be a sensational coup for Forest, and one that the club should be pushing hard to execute regardless of the lofty valuation.