Solskjaer makes NBA comparison after blocking Williams loan

Paul Macdonald

• Updated: 20 May 2021 11:26 BST
• 2 min read

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has revealed Brandon Williams will be remaining at Manchester United.

Defender Williams was strongly linked with a loan move in the January transfer window, with Newcastle United and Southampton among the Premier League teams connected with him.

The 20-year-old has only made one top-flight appearance this season, having featured 17 times last year.

But Solskjaer has been reluctant to let too many of his squad players leave due to the demands of the fixture list this season.

Donny van de Beek is another player United have rejected loan approaches for, despite his lack of first-team action.

Solskjaer compared the current run of matches to an NBA season as he provided an update on Williams.

“Brandon will stay,” said Solskjaer.

“He played for the U23’s against Liverpool on Saturday, he needed the match fitness.

“He has been working really hard. We don’t have any more players that we feel should be going. We need a strong squad.

“It’s a relentless season. We go again on Tuesday [against Southampton].

“It is like the NBA, we are on the road all the time. We need everyone. The group is tight.

“Brandon has been really good lately, working really hard the last few months and he will be ready when the chance comes.”

Williams is seen as valuable due to his ability to cover at either full-back spot.

However, his chances have been limited with Luke Shaw and Alex Telles both impressing at left-back, while Aaron Wan-Bissaka has made the right-back spot his own.

Solskjaer has, though, sanctioned some moves.

Jesse Lingard has joined West Ham, young striker James Garner will finish the season with Nottingham Forest and Tahith Chong has cut short his stay with Werder Bremen to join Club Brugge.

Winger Facundo Pellistri, meanwhile, is close to joining Deportivo Alaves.