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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Ben Husband

Ralf Rangnick kickstarts Man Utd consultancy role with first summer transfer decision

Ralf Rangnick wants to ensure Brandon Williams remains with the Manchester United squad for the start of next season.

Williams, 21, was sent on loan to Norwich City at the start of this campaign, with opportunities set to be limited under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

With Luke Shaw and Alex Telles both ahead of him in the Old Trafford pecking order, the then United boss sanctioned a move to the Premier League new boys.

However, at Carrow Road, the Red Devils academy graduate found himself in and out of the side under Daniel Farke, failing to ever truly establish himself in the starting XI.

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That has now changed under Farke’s replacement Dean Smith, with Williams helping the Canaries to two morale boosting victories in the month of January.

Williams earned the club’s player of the month for his performances against the likes of Everton and Watford and Smith has spoken in glowing terms about the youngster’s attitude in East Anglia.

“I think the likes of Brandon Williams, on loan from Manchester United, he has just got his head down and continued to try and play well,” Smith explained.

“He understands the predicament that we are in, the position we are in, and he wants to fight his way out of that and it has been pleasing to see.”

And the Sun report that Rangnick has already made it clear that Williams will be a part of the setup at Carrington next term, whether he is manager or not.

The 63-year-old’s stint in the Old Trafford dugout is set to come to an end at the conclusion of this season, having been appointed an interim replacement for the sacked Solskjaer.

There have been suggestions Rangnick could yet extend that arrangement, although all signs are pointing towards a long-term hiring in the summer.

Regardless, the experienced German will remain with the club having accepted terms on a two-year consultancy role which will see him help with the transition over to the new boss.

And his first order of business has reportedly been insisting that Williams will not be loaned out again and that he is central to their plans.

A source told the Sun that Rangnick made a beeline for Williams during United’s win over Norwich back in December.

The full-back was unable to play in that fixture but the United boss made sure to tell him that he has a ‘big future’ back at his parent club.

It is claimed that Rangnick is impressed by Williams’ speed and versatility as he can play both on the right and left side of a back four.

Williams signed a four-year deal before the 2020/21 campaign but played just four times before being granted a temporary move to Norwich.

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