James Garner’s already given Man United his answer amid Everton exit talk
James Garner has been linked with a surprise return to Manchester United, but previous comments suggest there is every chance he will stay at Everton.
It was reported on Friday that Man United see Garner as an affordable option to sign alongside someone like Adam Wharton next year.
Garner joined Everton from United three-and-a-half years ago and has around 18 months to run on his existing contract.
There has been talk of Garner possibly leaving Everton next summer if a new contract is not agreed before then, due to him being available on a free transfer 12 months later.
However, amid these somewhat surprising links with former side United, Garner will surely think twice about returning to Old Trafford.
James Garner wants to play regular football
One of Everton’s priorities is to tie Garner down to a new contract, ideally way before the summer transfer window opens.
Garner has been a regular for Everton again this season, starting all 17 Premier League matches and also both EFL Cup ties.
He is one of three players to have played more than 1,500 minutes of Premier League action for Everton this season, alongside Jordan Pickford and James Tarkowski.
Given Everton have enjoyed an impressive first half of the campaign, the 24-year-old has every reason to be happy with things at Hill Dickinson Stadium.
And comments made by Garner upon leaving United in 2022 are pretty telling, as the versatile midfielder made clear he wants to play regular football – something unlikely to be afforded to him by Ruben Amorim.
“I didn’t want to stagnate. I didn’t want to stay there really, and when they said I could leave also, I was in agreement with that. I just think it all made sense,” Garner told The Times.
“I know in myself I wouldn’t have played if I had stayed. I knew it was the perfect time now, at 21, to move on and try and stake my claim somewhere else and hopefully find a home, which I have now in Everton.
“Where I am at in my career now, I didn’t just want to be an extra body or I didn’t want to just be a spare player in training.
“Last season, I was one of the main players in [Nottingham] Forest’s team and that is what I want to be. I don’t want to be just another player who is there for numbers in training. I want to be a main part of the team whether that is a starter or coming off the bench.“
While Garner is now 24, rather than 21, the sentiment is still the same. He does not want to be a squad player.
What has Ruben Amorim said about Everton ace Garner?
United boss Amorim namechecked Garner ahead of Everton’s memorable 1-0 win at Old Trafford at the end of November.
Amorim pointed out that Garner was able to slot in at full-back, as he has done on both flanks this campaign, as well as being used in central midfield.
| Player | Matches played | Minutes |
| Jordan Pickford | 17 | 1,530 |
| James Tarkowski | 17 | 1,530 |
| James Garner | 17 | 1,523 |
That versatility may well explain why United are eager to bring Garner back to Manchester, but it does not mean he will start regularly.
Garner surely knows he is at the perfect place for him now, playing week in, week out for a team with aspirations of challenging for a European spot.
The former England Under-21 midfielder will have plenty to ponder if this interest advances, but hopefully he makes the right choice.
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