The Premier League full-back Liverpool should sign instead of Djed Spence is very well known at Anfield

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For whatever reason, Djed Spence has emerged amongst Liverpool supporters as the man to solve all of their issues in defence this season.The Tottenham full-back is seemingly available for transfer in the coming weeks, and given the Reds’ struggles in wide defensive positions, fans believe he should be at the top of Liverpool‘s shortlist.However, while Spence would at least be another option at both right and left-back for Andoni Iraola, the attractiveness of his addition pales in comparison to former Liverpool academy star Neco Williams. If the Reds are looking for a player who can cover them on both sides of the defence, surely Williams has to be their first pick.

Bradley's injuries mean he surely cannot be first choice when he returns Photo Credit: Getty Images/Shaun Brooks – CameraSport Neco Williams is a better Liverpool option than SpenceOne thing that Spence has over Williams is availability. However, if Liverpool come in for their former player, surely there is a deal there to be done.Nottingham Forest are notoriously difficult to do business with, and they would surely want a sizeable fee for a player who regularly starts for them and has three years on his contract, but how much more than the reported £35m asking price for Spence could it theoretically be?Having come through the youth ranks at Anfield and supported Liverpool as a child, surely Williams would be keen on a return which could see him become a regular starter four years after leaving.Though he has become more of a left-back for Forest, the 25-year-old is arguably better than both Conor Bradley and Jeremie Frimpong at right-back, and has shown himself to be a very competent Premier League performer.READ MORE: Victor Munoz’s first training session has left Liverpool fans believing he could be specialThere were rumours of interest from Manchester United earlier in the summer, and it is clear that Williams could make a step up.

In terms of Spence, Williams clears him comfortably. Both the same age and both capable of playing left and right, they are very comparable, but it is a battle which the Welshman wins hands down.Photo by Carlos Rodrigues/Getty ImagesLooking at the Premier League last season, Williams clears Spence in key metrics, including obvious ones like goals and assists, but also chances created (36 to 10), successful tackles per 90 (1.74 to 1.18) and blocks per 90 (0.51 to 0.13).Spence is statistically a better passer and a duel-winner, but Williams is arguably more consistent, has a better attitude and knows the club inside out.Do Liverpool have a buyback clause on Williams?Sadly, Liverpool did not have the foresight to include a buyback clause on Williams when selling him in 2022, despite it being clear that he had the potential to be a future option.The Wales international would have made more than the 33 appearances he managed for the Reds had his pathway not been blocked by Trent Alexander-Arnold, and he always looked assured right from his very first moments in the Liverpool first-team.The Reds had clearly been planning for Alexander-Arnold to spend his career at Anfield, which made staying unattractive to Williams, but there should have been a plan in place in case that did not happen.Williams could certainly have been that plan, and although Liverpool do hold a reported 17% sell-on fee on the Forest defender, which could potentially save them a little bit of cash if they did go in for him, freeing him from the grip of Evangelos Marinakis may prove difficult.Nevertheless, if it is a versatile full-back they are looking for, they should at least be exploring if anything is possible with Williams before turning to Spence.