Exclusive: Bristol City have serious Championship rival in bid to keep hold of Joe Williams
Joe Williams' stock is high across the Championship with the midfielder's deal at Ashton Gate expiring next month
Preston North End are among the Championship teams interested in signing out-of-contract Bristol City midfielder Joe Williams, Bristol Live understands, as he considers the Robins offer of a new deal.
Williams becomes a free agent next month as the four-year agreement he signed in 2020 expires but the Robins detailed in their retained list earlier this month that “discussions are ongoing” and the 27-year-old is taking his time as to the next step in his career.
The midfielder has enjoyed his most consistent campaign for City under Liam Manning with a series of impressive displays and his 3,077 minutes on the field have been comprehensively his most in a red and white shirt after his first two seasons in the West Country were impacted by hamstring issues.
Williams’ stock is high, not just within BS3, and it’s understood that Preston manager Ryan Lowe would like to bring his fellow Scouser to Deepdale with the former Everton academy player conforming to his ideal of what a Championship midfielder should be.
Experienced Irish midfielder Alan Browne, who’s been with Preston for the last 11 seasons and made 43 appearances last term, is coming to the end of his agreement at the club although has been offered an extension.
City believe they’ve made Williams a competitive offer, recognising his position in the squad and importance to the team moving forward but other factors could come into his decision-making as he enters his peak years as a footballer.
The lure of a return to his native north west could prove an attractive pull for Williams, having spent the last four years in the West Country.
With City adding Max Bird into the midfield, competition should be enhanced for next term as Jason Knight has proved his excellence in that area, Taylor Gardner-Hickman is now established in a central role and teenager Adam Murphy could come into contention as well based on how he performs in pre-season.
That being said, with Matty James having moved on following the expiry of his contract, and Andy King now retired, the prospect of losing Williams would leave City further short on Championship knowhow and in-game nous.
A fearsome competitor, Williams is something of an outlier in the City squad given how he constantly plays on the edge, although Manning has noted a big reason for his improvement has been the way he’s channelled his emotions in the right way.
Speaking towards the end of last season, the City head coach was more than aware that City won’t be alone in trying to sign Williams but the Robins are in a strong position given their familiarity to the midfielder and the clear improvement and strides he's made over the last six months.
“You only have to see how he’s performing,” Manning said. “I think anyone performing to that level will have interest and demand but, sitting with Joe, he’s quite clear in terms of he knows how he gets treated, how he gets coached and he sees what we’re trying to do. At the minute I think it’s a good place for him.”
Joe Williams' stock is high across the Championship with the midfielder's deal at Ashton Gate expiring next month
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Preston North End are among the Championship teams interested in signing out-of-contract Bristol City midfielder Joe Williams, Bristol Live understands, as he considers the Robins offer of a new deal.
Williams becomes a free agent next month as the four-year agreement he signed in 2020 expires but the Robins detailed in their retained list earlier this month that “discussions are ongoing” and the 27-year-old is taking his time as to the next step in his career.
The midfielder has enjoyed his most consistent campaign for City under Liam Manning with a series of impressive displays and his 3,077 minutes on the field have been comprehensively his most in a red and white shirt after his first two seasons in the West Country were impacted by hamstring issues.
Williams’ stock is high, not just within BS3, and it’s understood that Preston manager Ryan Lowe would like to bring his fellow Scouser to Deepdale with the former Everton academy player conforming to his ideal of what a Championship midfielder should be.
Experienced Irish midfielder Alan Browne, who’s been with Preston for the last 11 seasons and made 43 appearances last term, is coming to the end of his agreement at the club although has been offered an extension.
City believe they’ve made Williams a competitive offer, recognising his position in the squad and importance to the team moving forward but other factors could come into his decision-making as he enters his peak years as a footballer.
The lure of a return to his native north west could prove an attractive pull for Williams, having spent the last four years in the West Country.
With City adding Max Bird into the midfield, competition should be enhanced for next term as Jason Knight has proved his excellence in that area, Taylor Gardner-Hickman is now established in a central role and teenager Adam Murphy could come into contention as well based on how he performs in pre-season.
That being said, with Matty James having moved on following the expiry of his contract, and Andy King now retired, the prospect of losing Williams would leave City further short on Championship knowhow and in-game nous.
A fearsome competitor, Williams is something of an outlier in the City squad given how he constantly plays on the edge, although Manning has noted a big reason for his improvement has been the way he’s channelled his emotions in the right way.
Speaking towards the end of last season, the City head coach was more than aware that City won’t be alone in trying to sign Williams but the Robins are in a strong position given their familiarity to the midfielder and the clear improvement and strides he's made over the last six months.
“You only have to see how he’s performing,” Manning said. “I think anyone performing to that level will have interest and demand but, sitting with Joe, he’s quite clear in terms of he knows how he gets treated, how he gets coached and he sees what we’re trying to do. At the minute I think it’s a good place for him.”
