Manchester United midfielder James Garner has reportedly emerged as a transfer target for Premier League sides Everton and Leicester City.
According to The Sun, Manchester United midfielder James Garner is attracting a lot of interest from clubs in the Premier League after an impressive loan spell away at Nottingham Forest. Everton and Leicester City have entered the race to sign the Red Devils’ academy graduate heading into the summer.
Garner made his first-team debut for Manchester United in February 2019 under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer as a 17-year-old. He featured just six more times after that before heading out on loan to Watford in the summer of 2020. The young midfielder spent six months with the Hornets before returning in January 2021, only to sign for Nottingham Forest on a temporary deal.
Garner made a solid impression during the second half of the 2020/21 campaign with the Reds, which was enough for them to re-sign him for another year last summer. And the 21-year-old has enjoyed a brilliant season this time out, racking up four goals and ten assists from 47 games, helping Nottingham Forest qualify for the Championship playoff finals.
Garner’s form with the second division side has not escaped the attention of clubs in the Premier League. Southampton have shown an interest in the Englishman, with Everton and Leicester City now also joining the race to land the Manchester United academy graduate in the summer transfer window.
Everton survived the threat of relegation by the skin of their teeth. Having retained their Premier League status, the Toffees will be keen to push on and move up the standings next season, which will prompt them to strengthen their roster in the summer. And the midfield department is certainly an area where they can do with more quality.
Allan is likely to leave Everton in the summer, while Andre Gomes could also be moved on after an underwhelming season. Given Fabian Delph’s injury record, it makes sense for Frank Lampard to sign another midfielder who can partner with Abdoulaye Doucoure. There is interest in Brazilian prodigy Eric Ramires, while Manchester United’s James Garner is also a target.
Leicester City, too, are eyeing a swoop for Garner as they gear up for the departure of Youri Tielemans. The Belgian international’s contract expires in 2023, and he has decided to move on from the King Power Stadium, with Arsenal among the clubs interested. While Garner would not exactly be a like-for-like replacement, the 21-year-old has shown enough quality and potential to be trusted to fill in for Tielemans.
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With Manchester United themselves losing midfielders like Paul Pogba and Nemanja Matic, Garner might find a place for himself at Old Trafford. However, at the same time, the Red Devils are looking to bring in new players, which could hamper his pathway into the senior side. It could force the 21-year-old to consider a permanent move away in which case he will have no shortage of suitors.