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Oliver Walton

Wed 6 August 2025 17:03, UK

Ipswich should look to re-sign free agent Brandon Williams after Kieran McKenna confirmed a serious injury to one of his key full-backs ahead of the new Championship season.

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Williams has been without a club since leaving Man United last summer following the expiration of his contract at Old Trafford, and is currently training with Hull City as he looks to get his career back on track.

The 24-year-old was given a suspended 14-month prison sentence in May [BBC] for his role in a high-speed car crash that happened in 2023, but is set to return to football soon as he builds up his fitness with the Tigers.

Football Insider revealed last month that Besiktas were plotting a move for Williams, with former Red Devils manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer interested in the full-back’s services.

His decent trial spell at Hull has seen Football Insider reveal on Tuesday (5 August) that several Championship clubs want to sign Williams alongside the Tigers, and Ipswich could be one of those interested sides following a bad injury to one of their existing players.

Left-back Townsend joined the Tractor Boys from West Brom last summer after their promotion to the Premier League, and he made seven appearances last season across all competitions.

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The 32-year-old started in their pre-season friendly against Auxerre on Saturday (2 August), but went off with an innocuous injury in the first-half after going down injured despite making no contact with an opposition player.

Ipswich (6 August) have now revealed the seriousness of his injury, via X, with a statement saying: “Kieran McKenna has confirmed that Conor Townsend suffered an ACL injury against Auxerre.

We’re all with you, Conor.”

With Townsend now out for the foreseeable future, McKenna will have to delve into the market to sign a new left-back, as his only senior option in that position as it stands is his first-choice, Leif Davis.

It would therefore make a lot of sense for the Portman Road outfit to approach Williams with a contract as soon as possible, given the interest in his signature, with other clubs seemingly lining up an offer soon.

AppearancesGoalsAssists5112Williams’ Man United career stats

The 24-year-old has proved his quality in the second-tier before, with Ipswich no less, after his 17 appearances on loan at the club during their 2023/24 Championship promotion campaign.

Williams would join as a very capable back-up to Davis, even potentially challenging him for his starting place, while his versatility means he can feature on either side of a back-four, which will appeal to McKenna.

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The ex-Man United man would surely jump at the chance to join a club that is likely to be pushing for promotion like the Tractor Boys, and the emotional ties of returning to a place where he was wanted and enjoyed his time would surely also play a part in his decision.

It feels like a no-brainer for McKenna to make an attempt to sign Williams right now, but Ipswich will have to be quick, as the 24-year-old is set to be inundated with offers following his decent trial at Hull.

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