Nottingham Forest are now preparing for Neco Williams to join new club - verdict
Nottingham Forest look resigned to losing Neco Williams to a Premier League rival as they are linked with another left-back signing this summer.
Williams was one of Forest's top performers throughout last season as they struggled to replicate their success from the previous campaign.
He won the club's Player of the Season award in May after registering six goal contributions across 53 games in all competitions from left-back.
The Wales star is a right-back by trade, but has made the opposite flank his own at the City Ground as Ola Aina also regularly impresses in his natural position.
His future at the club is uncertain as it stands, with widespread reports linking several Premier League sides to his services and Forest trying to tie him to a new contract.
Some recent developments in the market point to his exit being almost inevitable, particularly given the size of the clubs who are now interested in Williams.
Nottingham Forest drawing up clear Neco Williams succession plan with new links
Oliver Glasner looks set to deploy his usual five-back formation with Forest next season, and is clearly targeting a specialist player for the position this summer.
With Luca Netz already an able back-up and Cuiabano also potentially set to come into the fold behind Williams, a new left-sided full-back should theoretically not be on Forest's agenda.
It therefore makes little sense as to why the Reds have been linked with two different players in that position in the last few days.
Argentina World Cup star Nicolas Tagliafico is a reported target after he entered the final year of his contract at Lyon.
The Reds have now also been linked to Sevilla's Joaquin Oso by ABC Sevilla, who claim that Evangelos Marinakis has returned with a second bid for his services after seeing an initial £5.5m offer turned down.
Fenerbahce's Archie Brown was also linked to the club earlier in the window, and some reports in Turkey have stated that he has already signed an agreement with Forest to join this summer.
It would make little sense for the Reds to be targeting this many left-backs if they were not expecting a departure, and increasing talk of interest in Williams points to him being the one to make way soon.
Which clubs are after Williams this summer?
Williams may feel like he has more to offer at a club with more ambition than Forest, especially after their 16th-placed finish last season.
The 25-year-old certainly has the quality to play at a higher level after impressing in the Europa League, and sources have told Football Insider that Man United are keen on Williams as Michael Carrick eyes a new left-back signing.
Forest want to tie him down to a new contract, but talks do not seem to be progressing as he weighs up his next move this summer, which may well be away from the club.