Revealed: The ex-Man United star once tipped to replace Luke Shaw who is now stuck in unemployment… with doubts over ‘if he will ever return to the highest level’ after hippy crack charges

A former Manchester United star who was tipped to replace Luke Shaw is still without a job after leaving the club at the end of last season.

Brandon Williams, made 51 appearances for Manchester United – all but one of which came during Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s reign as manager at Old Trafford. 

As reported by The Athletic, United’s former chief executive Ed Woodward told people on a Europa League trip to Astana in Kazakhstan that Williams had replaced England international Luke Shaw as the club’s top left-back. 

However, five years later from their trip to Kazakhstan, the now 24-year-old is without a club, as no one picked him up over the summer after his contract expired at Old Trafford.  

Williams, who made 15 appearances on loan for Ipswich as they sealed promotion to the Premier League season, reportedly has no immediate prospects of a return to the sport. 

Williams was described by Ed Woodward (right) as the man to replace Luke Shaw (left)

There are doubts with some at United over whether Williams will ‘return to the highest level of football until he has reassessed his priorities’

Williams (second left) made the majority of his Man United appearances under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer

As reported by the Athletic, ‘not everyone connected’ with the Red Devils is convinced he will return to the highest level of football until he has ‘fully reassessed his priorities’. 

Williams last played on December 29, in Ipswich’s goalless draw with QPR, before he was left on the bench in their following game with Stoke City.

He returned to Old Trafford for ‘assessment’ in early January and, after that, it became apparent he would not return to Portman Road.

As reported by Mail Online back in April, Williams will go on trial in March 2025 after he was accused of crashing his sports car while inhaling ‘hippy crack’ laughing gas at the wheel. 

Williams pleaded not guilty to dangerous driving in his Audi S Line on the A34, in Wilmslow, Cheshire in August last year. 

The defender, who was on an estimated £65,000 a week, also denied driving without valid insurance. 

Williams took to social media to pen the emotional message to Red Devils supporters

Williams, who has also played for England at Under-20 and Under-21 level, was told by Judge Simon Berkson that his trial, expected to last three days, will start on March 17 next year. He was granted unconditional bail. 

Williams did have spells of good form for both Norwich during the 2021-22 season, and Ipswich last campaign. 

However, the Athletic’s report claims that United boss Erik ten Hag had already decided that he did not plan to use Williams and the club were ‘alarmed’ at what they heard about their player.  

It’s said there was ‘evidence of a player who started to lose his way and was not listening to the right people’ and was ‘getting his priorities badly wrong after the money and stardom arrived’. 

Williams, after his departure from Old Trafford earlier this year, wrote on Instagram: ‘I always hoped I would have never had to make this post but here we are.

 ‘Since the age of 7, this Manchester United football club has been part of my life from the cliff to Carrington day in and day out.

Williams spent last season on loan at Ipswich, making 15 Championship appearances in the first half of the season before returning to United in January for ‘assessment’

‘But to have been able to make brothers which will last a lifetime I want to thank my teammates, especially the ones I’ve shared the past 17 years with.

‘Thank you to the staff the kitmen, maintenance workers, security, and physios I could go on and on you were all amazing and of course the coaches.

‘Then most importantly THANKYOU to you fans the backbone of the club the reason we work so hard to be able to perform at the highest level because you all deserve it.’