Manchester United want a new midfielder this summer. Elliot Anderson is expected to be the main target, with Adam Wharton and Calos Baleba said to be in the shortlist too.
A big money approach is expected for one of the targets this year, but is there a frustration that United had a high-performing midfielder on their books – and didn’t see it?
On Monday night, United go to an Everton side whose midfield is marshalled superbly by James Garner, once part of the Red Devils’ academy but now one of the high-performing midfielders in the Premier League.
Garner departed United for £15m two-and-a-half years ago despite being highly-rated at the club’s academy. Nicky Butt, who knows a thing or two about playing in midfield for United and coached Garner in the club’s academy, backed the now-24-year-old to have a long career at Old Trafford.
Monday 23rd February 6:30pm
Kick off 8:00pm
“I didn’t want to be stuck in the mud,” said Garner after leaving United. “I needed to make a decision to leave one of the best clubs in the world, which was hard, but it is one I am happy I made.”
If Anderson is the leading light in midfield this season, then Garner has a valid case to be deputy in that list. A lot of the underlying numbers pair Garner right behind Anderson in many of the key statistics and metrics that define Premier League midfielders this season.
James Garner is rivalling Elliot Anderson as one of the Premier League’s top midfielders
Yet everyone is talking about Anderson, while the noise around Garner remains quiet. That may be down to the fact that the Everton midfielder signed a new deal in Merseyside until 2030 earlier this season, just months before he was set to depart the club on a free transfer.
But there is another area where Garner is being overlooked. Despite a consistent spell at Everton and multiple international windows where England boss Thomas Tuchel has trialled out midfielders such as Alex Scott, Curtis Jones and Ruben Loftus-Cheek, there has not been room for Garner as of yet, despite his consistent performances.
But that may not be the case anymore. After Everton beat United away from home back in November, Tuchel had a conversation with a couple of Toffees players in the Old Trafford dugout. Jack Grealish was one, but Garner was the other.
Tuchel has not picked an England squad since then but with the March international break coming just months before the summer World Cup, there has been a clamour for Garner to get a Three Lions look-in – including form David Moyes.
“England have got so many good players to select from,” said the Everton boss before the last national team squad was announced.
“I’ve been listening to discussions all week about Phil Foden and Jude Bellingham, but all I’m saying is Jimmy is one of the group of young English midfield players who maybe in the future has a chance of getting a call-up.”
And the player himself? “I am a very realistic person and if you would have asked me 12 months ago, I would have said I’m miles off it,” said Garner earlier this month.
“But this season, if I keep these performances up, I don’t think there’s any reason why I can’t be in and around it.”
In Manchester United and England, Garner can claim that most of his career has been spent being underestimated. But the next few months could see him finally enter the spotlight.
Watch Everton vs Manchester United live on Sky Sports’ Monday Night Football this weekend from 6.30pm, kick-off 8pm