Liverpool have confirmed Rhys Williams will spend the season on loan at Championship side Blackpool.
The 21-year-old, who penned a long-term contract last year, has been allowed to move to Bloomfield Road with the Reds keen for him to gain further senior experience after a frustrating time last term.
Williams agreed a season-long loan at Championship side Swansea City, only for the spell to be cut short after just seven appearances with a return to Liverpool in January, after which he finished strongly with the under-23s and made the bench for the Champions League semi-final against Villarreal and the Premier League match at Southampton.
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The centre-back, who joined Liverpool at U10 level, made his first-team breakthrough during the 2020/21 campaign in which he made 19 appearances. He featured alongside Nat Phillips in the heart of the defence for the final five games as Jurgen Klopp's side earned an unlikely Champions League qualification.
Blackpool are now managed by Michael Appleton, who replaced Neil Critchley in the summer after the former Liverpool U23s coach agreed to join Aston Villa as Steven Gerrard's assistant head coach.
Despite the temporary exit of Williams, Liverpool are still open to offers for Phillips. The 25-year-old, who spent the second half of last season helping Bournemouth to promotion to the Premier League, is attracting interest from clubs in the Championship and Germany with the Cherries also keeping tabs. While a permanent exit had been anticipated, the Reds are open to another loan move.
Liverpool have been assessing their centre-back options this summer. Billy Koumetio will spend the season at Austria Vienna, Ben Davies is close to a permanent move to Rangers while Sepp van den Berg could also leave on a temporary deal.
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