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Everton interested in Manchester United midfield starlet

By Matt Townsend

Huddersfield Town's English forward Danny Ward (L) fights for the ball with Nottingham Forest's English midfielder James Garner (R) during the English Championship play-off final football match between Huddersfield Town and Nottingham Forest at Wembley Stadium in London, on May 29, 2022. - - NOT FOR MARKETING OR ADVERTISING USE / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE (Photo by Adrian DENNIS / AFP) / NOT FOR MARKETING OR ADVERTISING USE / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE (Photo by ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP via Getty Images)
Huddersfield Town's English forward Danny Ward (L) fights for the ball with Nottingham Forest's English midfielder James Garner (R) during the English Championship play-off final football match between Huddersfield Town and Nottingham Forest at Wembley Stadium in London, on May 29, 2022. - - NOT FOR MARKETING OR ADVERTISING USE / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE (Photo by Adrian DENNIS / AFP) / NOT FOR MARKETING OR ADVERTISING USE / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE (Photo by ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP via Getty Images) /
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More transfer rumours continue to circulate with Everton now being linked with a possible loan move for Manchester United midfielder James Garner.

Arguably the most critical area of the Everton team that certainly needs major surgery and improvement, is midfield.

The Toffees’ centre was too often soft and lacked solidity and balance with several ageing players like Allan whose form has been patchy recently, and a few academy youngsters (such as Tom Davies) who’s future is still uncertain.

There’s a general need for more pace, athleticism, defensive strength and creativity in the centre of the park.

Too often, the short-term mix of squad players signed by a variety of past managers didn’t work and left the team’s middle looking lop-sided and unbalanced, contributing to defensive weakness and hurting the side’s ability to keep and use the ball effectively.

Getting that better balance in the midfield will help provide extra cover for a vulnerable and leaky defence which conceded far too many goals (sixty six in the Premier League) and give more support for a splutering and inconsistent attack.

Frank Lampard has also spoken about making his Blues’ sides more robust and overcoming the injury problems that have so often plagued him and his predeccessors. So, not a lot to sort out then!

Everton have been linked with several young midfielders as soon as the season finished and attention turned to summer transfers.

One of those was Connor Gallagher of Chelsea who impressed so many with his performances at Crystal Palace last season.

However, it now seems he’s likely to stay at Chelsea and so Lampard has had to turn his attention to other midfield players.

According to reports, one of those new possibilities is United starlet Garner who has also been on loan recently, at Nottingham Forest in the Championship.

Garner is a young central midfielder who combines solid defensive qualities and has also produced some good attacking stats as well and again like so many of these club academy products looks a decent prospect, on paper at least.

The key question is whether he could step up to the Premier League, if indeed he makes a move to Everton or stays at Forest, as they have been promoted.

Of course, it remains to be seen if United will anyway agree to loan him out again, although inititial rumours suggest that will be the case.

Garner looks the sort of young midfield player who might well fit the bill for the Blues’, and given that he offers good all-round ability he could be a decent bet for the coming season at least.

One thing that is abundantly clear is that the Toffees’ need to enter the coming campaign with a much more energetic, dynamic and better balanced midfield if they are to make any genuine progress next season.

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