Town are in talks regarding the signing of Manchester United left-back Brandon Williams.

The move, understood to be a loan with an option to buy, is not yet done with the parties still in discussion.

If it goes through, the switch will allow Greg Leigh to leave the Blues to join Oxford United, as reported yesterday.

Williams came through the academy at Old Trafford, where Blues boss Kieran McKenna worked prior to joining Town, and has made 30 first-team appearances for the Red Devils, scoring one goal, including 13 Premier League starts, the most recent in 2020/21.

Last season, the 22-year-old made one senior appearance for United, as a late sub in a Carabao Cup victory over Burnley and he is yet to have any involvement this season.

Manchester-born Williams, who although right-footed prefers to play on the left, spent the 2012/22 season on loan at Norwich City during their Premier League relegation season, making 25 starts and four sub appearances.

The stint at Carrow Road ended unhappily when he was abused by a group of Canaries supporters who had waited for him outside the ground following his final game, a 4-0 home defeat by West Ham.

Williams subsequently posted posted a photo of his dog, apparently as a warning, and a middle finger gesture on social media before removing the posts.

The 5ft 7in tall defender is contracted to United until next summer with the club having an option for a further season.

Earlier in the week, Saturday's opponents Leeds United were credited with interest in the full-back.

Photo: Sipa USA

blues1 added 07:46 - Aug 23 Mick Mills Tash. Really? So ud rather have 5ft9 Leigh than 6ft Davis? That makes no sense whatsoever. Especially taking into account ur using Williams height against him. As for this, he's played for Norwich bs. So what? Hes a footballer, it's his job. No different than some1 working for tesco, then going to work for sainsbury. Those fans who have an issue with that, need to grow up. And hey, there are certain players no town fan would want who's played for them. The likes of grant holt, no1 would have wanted. But there's reasons for that. He had a big allegiance to them. And made it known too.

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exeterblue10 added 07:47 - Aug 23 Van Duden. Alan Lee did alright for us didn’t he? And David Wright. And John ‘Dixie’ Deehan. Hesitate to mention Louie Donowa as well. All had played for Nodge before us.
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Len_Brennan added 07:52 - Aug 23 It was inevitable that we would be signing 'upgrade' players to replace some of those who performed well & we liked, once we got promoted, so a move like this is no surprise & has to be a good thing. I think Greg Leigh has been a great signing, and had Leif Davis not subsequently come in & been such an outstanding addition, Greg would have proven himself as a decent & reliable starting left back for us in League 1. I wish him well at Oxford & admire his desire to play football, not just to mainly sit on the bench & pick up what is likely to be better wages in the Championship (promotion bonus) than what he'll now be on. Williams offers cover at right back as well as being back up for Davis; KMcK likes a versatile player so that makes sense, but it also had to appeal to Brandon - if Greg Leigh wanted a move because he wasn't getting enough game time behind Leif, a Man Utd player with Premier League experience is not going to be happy to drop down a level to replace him, without getting assurances that he won't be regularly left out of the match day squad too.

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bobble added 08:05 - Aug 23 are they making platform football boots ?
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MickMillsTash added 08:53 - Aug 23 Have to say I'm surprised Davis is 6ft - he always looks smaller than his opponent and colleagues, Anyway Leigh is better in the air than Davis. Regarding Norwich links - I always hated Lambert- for the worst night at Portman Road ever 1-5 and then the game vs Northampton 0-0, I didn't mind Royle, I never forgave Putney. I admired Grant Holt, perhaps I need therapy, I missed Alex Mathie's Hatrick, Probably still recovering from Ewan Roberts and before Steve Bruce in 84/85 but we all know that Ken Brown bribed the referee.

1

BlueMoolay added 08:58 - Aug 23 In McKenna we trust
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itfcblueboy added 09:23 - Aug 23 Decent signing I'd say, get him in. See if we can get Harry Maguire in as well
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OliveR16 added 09:23 - Aug 23 Hopefully we'll get an explanation when/if he signs - Keiran is usually good at doing that. On the face of it we seem to be strengthening our strongest position!
3

Bert added 09:25 - Aug 23 If he is good enough for us that’s all that matters. That said it’s a pity to lose Leigh but his motives to move on are understandable.
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dirtydingusmagee added 10:08 - Aug 23 THERE'S ALWAYS ONE ! and this time VanDusen wins the coconut, mindless comment ., KMK knows the player and his abilities and is not plucking a straw out of a bucket, trust him .
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Northstandveteran added 10:13 - Aug 23 Wikipedia, 21 premier league, 8 F.A cup, 8 EFL, 14 Europeans appearances. No-one else in our squad has that pedigree. I'd take him all day long.
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dirtydingusmagee added 10:18 - Aug 23 Blues1 you realise you have just ''linked'' us to Haarland, it will be an absolute frenzy on here now .lol
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BildestonBlue added 11:24 - Aug 23 I really like Leigh & Edwards but unfortunately if they are not going to be playing enough minutes to warrant a squad place then replacing them with players with potential that are under the 23 year old threshold makes sense to me. With the squad and financial limits, these decisions are necessitated to include as much quality as possible in the squad allocation. P.S please sign another Forward!

4

Marinersnose added 11:31 - Aug 23 Quality player but would he be happy as backup to Davis ? Davis will be watched closely by bigger clubs as he’s a consistent performer. I’d like a striker through the door and a left sided centre back. KMK will I’m sure strengthen
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Sir_Monte_Carlo added 11:34 - Aug 23 I think we can ignore his N""wich past. Seems like it all went very sour and I doubt he holidays there.
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oldelsworthyfan added 12:03 - Aug 23 No more 'back-ups' needed.
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itfckenty added 12:57 - Aug 23 to note on some comments, supposedly he hated playing at Norwich.. didn't enjoy his time there at all. who cares anyway! once he has that shirt on and does his job, he will form a bond with the lads and become one of us. look at Hirst - was begging to come back.
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thatsbonkers added 13:21 - Aug 23 Sometimes it’s essential to focus on the bigger picture which really has to be getting VanDusen 100 down marks…that’s gotta be some kind of record surely!
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ringwoodblue added 13:47 - Aug 23 1 year at Carrot Rd probably felt like 10, poor lad. I trust Ashton and McK to make the right choices for the club so if it means selling/loaning out Leigh then so be it.
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Tractor_Boy_Tommy added 14:31 - Aug 23 Ex Narwich no thanks come on town we can surely do better than this
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Flamencaman added 14:38 - Aug 23 From what I read and the abuse he got from Norwich fans I’d say he’s ideal replacement for Leigh sad to see him go but if he wants to play good on him Oxford getting a good player
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PhuketPete added 14:44 - Aug 23 After his closing experience after that last defeat to West Ham, I think he’d be a great signing - I’d give him his debut in the first available derby !
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Northstandveteran added 15:03 - Aug 23 Nothing like a bit of online bullying is there? Posters swarming like vultures to rip apart VanDusen. Over what? A light hearted comment that would have been upvoted had we been trying to sign an ACTUAL Norwich player.
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BulgarianBlue added 15:23 - Aug 23 "Williams subsequently posted a photo of his dogs, apparently a warning, and middle finger gesture on social media before removing the posts." This is what puts me off signing this child.
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Linkboy13 added 16:40 - Aug 23 Sounds a decent signing to me only problem he's quite small in stature and we are already a rather small team and our lack of physicality worries me a bit in the championship. Greg Leigh was a good squad player in league one but he's not championship standard. Fans get very attached to players and don't like to see them go but that's football im afraid no sentiment. Our team has good technical players with skill but at times we seemed to be losing the physical battles.

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