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Wales Online
Wales Online
Sport
Ian Mitchelmore

Liverpool to recall Rhys Williams from Swansea City as further transfer work needed

Liverpool are set to recall Rhys Williams from his loan spell with Swansea City.

The defender has struggled to make an impact on the pitch since moving to south Wales on deadline day in the summer transfer window.

He has featured just seven times in all competitions this season, with only five of those outings being starts.

Williams last featured for the Swans as a late substitute in the 3-2 FA Cup third-round loss to Southampton while he was omitted from the matchday squad altogether for the 1-1 draw with Huddersfield Town at The John Smith's Stadium.

Liverpool have been unimpressed with Williams' lack of game-time under Russell Martin - who has preferred to deploy the likes of Ryan Manning, Ryan Bennett, Ben Cabango and Brandon Cooper in the wider centre-back positions this season.

As a result, the Reds have made the decision to cut short the 20-year-old's season-long loan deal at Swansea.

However, they are working on finding Williams a new loan club before ending his time with the Swans as the Reds do not see him featuring in their squad for the second half of the 2021/22 campaign.

Speaking about Williams ahead of the draw with Huddersfield, Martin said: "We've been really honest with Liverpool about the opportunities Rhys has had and the potential opportunities he has moving forward, so the ball is in their court."

It means Martin's side no longer have any loan players on their books following the departure of Ethan Laird earlier this month.

Morgan Whittaker, Steven Benda, Dan Williams, Lewis Webb and Liam Cullen have all sealed loan exits since the turn of the year, with only Andy Fisher and Cyrus Christie being brought in. Jake Bidwell has also left the club for Coventry City .

Swans boss Martin is a firm admirer of MK Dons defender Harry Darling and could potentially swoop for the 22-year-old this month.

Should Swansea fail to strike a deal for the centre-back's services, they could revive their interest in him in the summer.

The transfer window closes at 11pm on Monday, January 31.

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