West Ham United recently attempted to buy 23-year-old Welsh full-back Neco Williams from Nottingham Forest, but the Premier League club turned down the deal.
According to Graeme Bailey’s article on HITC, West Ham United expressed interest in Neco Williams during the summer transfer window. Earlier this summer, the East London club sought to recruit Nottingham Forest’s 23-year-old versatile full-back. However, the Tricky Trees declined the offer, dealing a setback to West Ham’s ambitions.
Neco Williams and his career so far
Neco Williams has found a steady footing in the Premier League since joining Nottingham Forest from Liverpool in July 2022. The Welshman, who was born in Wrexham, spent his early years with Liverpool, entering the Merseyside club’s academy when he was eight years old in 2009.
While the 23-year-old has not been Nottingham Forest’s unquestioned first-choice right-back during the last two years, he has 68 appearances for the Premier League club, scoring one goal and assisting twice. Williams, on the other hand, is a Wales regular, having appeared 39 times for the Dragons to date.
Meanwhile, Neco Williams’ development at Nottingham Forest has not gone unnoticed, drawing the attention of several well-known clubs, particularly those in the Premier League. According to the most current update, West Ham United made a bid to recruit the Welsh international during the summer transfer window.
Move across the Premier League on the cards?
West Ham United’s interest in Neco Williams is understandable. Following Ben Johnson’s departure as a free agent, the Hammers have been looking for a right-back ahead of the summer transfer window. As a result, numerous right-backs, including Aaron Wan-Bissaka, have been identified as potential targets for West Ham.
West Ham was also interested in Williams, and the East London club made an offer to Nottingham Forest in part exchange. However, the Hammers’ deal was unsuccessful, as the Tricky Trees were unwilling to part ways with a highly regarded full-back.
The 23-year-old Welshman, who can play on either flank, may have been an excellent addition to West Ham’s team. However, the refusal may not matter, as the East London club is allegedly closing in on signing Noussair Mazraoui from Bayern Munich.
