Everton have to pay major money for loan-bound Manchester United talent James Garner
Everton look like they have missed out on James Garner as Manchester United want to keep hold of him for the future, according to Football Transfers.
The Athletic had reported on 1 June that the Toffees were one of a few clubs, along with Premier League rivals Leeds and Leicester, who were monitoring the 21-year-old’s situation.
Erik ten Hag is interested in assessing him but Nottingham Forest, where he spent 2021/22 on loan, were reportedly hopeful of bringing him back again.
The England under-21 international drew plenty of attention at the City Ground, where he played 49 times in all competitions, scoring four and assisting 10, as they achieved promotion to the Premier League.
And that appears to be exactly what is happening as Football Transfers report that the player wants to return, and that he and his family “really love the club and have built a great rapport with the supporters there”.
That leaves the Toffees on the outside looking in, with only an unlikely sizeable cash bid capable of bringing him to Goodison Park.
The report says: “It would take a great deal of cash for Man Utd to sell to a solid Premier League club, such as Leeds and Everton.”
Out of reach
It looked like it was always going to be an outside bet for Frank Lampard to get a chance to bring Garner in, especially considering the interest he was drawing.
Were the club coming off a more stable season they might have represented an attractive challenge for him, and United may have seen it as a useful step up to loan him to Merseyside.
But considering the chaotic campaign that required a last-gasp escape from relegation, coupled with the fact that Forest are making the step up to the top flight collectively, it is logical that he stays there.
The chances of Everton coming in with a permanent bid that Old Trafford can’t refuse seems remote in the circumstances, despite the new club-record sponsorship deal with Stake.com.
Lampard needs to make the most of whatever funds he has at his disposal, which isn’t thought to be a huge amount.
Blowing a large chunk on an unproven player isn’t going to happen since even Farhad Moshiri looks to be learning from his mistakes in that area.
A loan would have been a boost had it been a possibility, but it looks like Steve Cooper’s top flight returnees always had the inside track.
The Toffees have to spend carefully as they look to strengthen this summer, and will have to move on to other avenues.
In other Everton news, the club had no choice but to ignore ethical concerns to sign their new sponsorship deal thanks to their financial issues.
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