Nottingham Forest will be looking to strengthen their team this summer as they take on their first season back in the Premier League for 23 years, and now a new potential transfer target has emerged.
What's the latest?
According to Nottinghamshire Live, Steve Cooper and his recruitment team are interested in signing Neco Williams this summer.
As per the report, Brennan Johnson's Wales teammate is someone the club is looking at signing as an alternative to their former loan player Djed Spence.
It comes as The Express journalist Ryan Taylor claims Tottenham Hotspur "will offer £20m" to Middlesbrough for Spence.
Williams can replace Spence
Cooper will surely be disappointed that it is now looking unlikely that he will be able to complete a deal for the Middlesbrough right-back to remain at The City Ground upon promotion to the Premier League, however, the manager is clearly not waiting around to find the right replacement.
Spence who was hailed "swashbuckling" by Ian Wright had teased Forest supporters following their win in the play-off finals saying he would "hopefully" make a permanent move, however, Spurs are now looking close to hijacking that opportunity.
However, not all is lost as there is a great opportunity to permanently sign a right-back that can be the perfect replacement for Spence, as Neco Williams has been phenomenal during his short spell in the Championship with fellow Premier League promoted side Fulham.
The £15m dynamo who was hailed "majestic" by Wales Online journalist Paul Abbandonato, joined the West London outfit on loan from Liverpool for six months in January, and made 14 impressive performances for the side.
Williams scored two goals, delivered two assists and created two big chances showing that like Spence, he can be a swashbuckling presence on the right. He also made 2.6 tackles, 1.3 interceptions and 1.6 clearances on average per game, as well as winning the majority of his duels combined (53%) and was successful in completing the majority of his dribbles too (51%).
The attacking-minded Welsh youngster has proved he has a lot to offer in both defensive and offensive play which could be really valuable to Cooper next season as he takes on the challenge to maintain Forest's top-flight status further from their initial return.
With that being said, if Forest can reach a deal to sign Williams this summer it would be a coup in their efforts to build their Premier League competing squad and move away from relying on loan deals by permanently signing players who can become part of the new chapter for the club.