Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard humorously told Nottingham Forest player Neco Williams that he is needed at Anfield when questioned about the defender's transfer future.
Williams, 25, a product of Liverpool's academy, recently featured as Nottingham Forest drew 2-2 with a team managed by Andoni Iraola. The match marked a challenging start for the new manager, who is still seeking his first competitive victory.
Williams has established himself as a strong performer at full-back in the Premier League over the last two seasons, attracting interest from other clubs. Reports earlier in the transfer window indicated that Manchester United had Williams on their list of transfer targets, with Newcastle United also expressing admiration for the Welsh international.
During a broadcast on TNT Sport, Gerrard, responding to questions from interviewer Lynsey Hipgrave about Williams' future and potential concerns over current full-backs Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez, stated, "we need full-back cover here." The comment elicited a lighthearted reaction from Williams, who affirmed his commitment to his current club.
"Listen, every day I'm focused on the badge I'm wearing right now, and that's Forest, and that's all I can do," Williams said. "Of course, it's nice to see that teams are showing interest, but at the end of the day, I'm a Forest player, and I am focused on what I'm doing here."
Gerrard's remark followed a similar on-air exchange involving former Manchester United goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel and Newcastle manager Matthias Jaissle. Schmeichel had inquired about the future of Newcastle's Lewis Hall, prompting Jaissle to firmly state, "No chance, no chance."