Everton are reportedly in talks with Manchester United for 21-year-old promising midfielder James Garner.
According to The Athletic, Premier League club, Everton are in negotiations with Manchester United for young midfielder James Garner.
The 21-year-old came through the ranks at Manchester United before making his first team bow under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. However, Garner made just a handful of first-team appearances and was largely consigned to the reserve side.
Garner spent the 2021/22 season on loan at Championship side Nottingham Forest, playing a key role in their promotion to the Premier League. A return to Carrington this summer was much anticipated, but it could prove to be a short-lived one for the young Manchester United midfielder.
Erik ten Hag does not appear to have the 21-year-old in his plans for the 2021/22 season. This will prove to be a hindrance to the youngster’s development, and an exit could beckon. There is no shortage of clubs interested, with several teams keeping tabs on the situation.
Everton are one of the clubs in the fray and are in negotiations for the player. The Red Devils appear open to letting the youngster leave and are demanding £14 million for his services. It represents a fair price for a player who has the minerals to emerge as a Premier League mainstay.
Frank Lampard’s side have endured a difficult start to the season and will need all the help they can get to avoid another relegation scrap. The arrival of Amadou Onana gives the Toffees some muscle in the middle of the pitch, and adding Garner to that roster will only strengthen it further.
Everton are in the market for a defensive midfielder and fell short of bringing back Idrissa Gueye to Goodison Park. Garner might not have the same experience as the Paris Saint-Germain star but has the potential to develop into a dependable presence in the middle of the park. Lampard has enjoyed some success in mentoring young players during his time at Derby County and Chelsea and could take Garner under his wing.
The chance to play under one of England’s greatest ever midfielders would be a massive opportunity for Garner. While leaving Manchester United is certainly a setback, he could now be handed an immediate opportunity to fast-track his development and perhaps remind those at Old Trafford of what they will potentially have missed out on.
Garner is a deep lying playmaker, similar to Fred, and would only be surplus if United signed De Jong – even then, he would be a better bet to keep than Fred.
Both Donny Van de Beek and McTominay are more box to box midfielders and both have shown little and one needs to be moved on.
That said, another defensive midfielder ought to be added, as Casemiro will not be able to play every game.