James Garner may already have played final Everton game, time is running out
Everton are in a race against time regarding the future of James Garner.
Everton secured a point in a goalless draw with Burnley on Saturday, with plenty of attention now set to turn towards the January transfer window.
The Toffees will be in the market for a new striker, while also looking to bolster other areas of the squad in a bid to push up the table in the new year.
However, with Man United reportedly interested in Garner, they have a clear priority in the next three days.
Everton must seal new Garner contract
Come 1 January, Garner will officially be able to negotiate a free transfer abroad ahead of the summer window, when Everton will lose him for free.
That is because the midfielder is out of contract in six months, and while Everton are in talks with Garner over a new deal, there seems to have been little progress made.
Man United are looking to seal a cut-price deal for their former academy star, with the Toffees hopeful of closing talks with him ahead of the window opening.
However, with just a few days until that happens, time is running out for the Merseysiders, and it may start to force them into a decision they don’t want to make.
Everton will have 31 days to secure a fee for his exit if talks don’t progress as planned, and the longer that goes on, the more likely it will be that he departs.
Kobbie Mainoo deal must be progressed in case of Garner exit
Kobbie Mainoo will not be a priority for Everton, but with Garner’s future yet to be decided, they may have to work on a deal in the event that he does leave.
The Toffees can’t afford to go to the final days of the window in search of a replacement, nor can they afford to leave it that long before deciphering where Garner will be playing his football next season.
Not only has he been a key player for Everton from a performance perspective, but Garner’s versatility has also come up trumps on several occasions.
His exit would be a major blow, and certainly one that they need to have succession plans in place for.
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