How Djed Spence could unlock James Garner record as Everton transfer eyed

One Everton man who could be delighted to see Djed Spence arrive in L3 is James Garner.

A new right-back is very much needed at Hill Dickinson, with Garner often being deployed in that role alongside Jake O'Brien. Neither are fullbacks.

The Blues have been linked with a number of wide defenders and England international Spence is one of them.

Spence found himself under scrutiny after being called up for the World Cup, but the Tottenham man is a Premier League proven option.

While Everton will undoubtedly be looking at the data and why Spence could improve David Moyes' side, there is another string to the transfer.

Garner and Spence have previously been teammates before, and they hold quite a record together

Why Djed Spence and James Garner’s Nottingham Forest time could be key for Everton

Spence would bring plenty of traits sorely lacking at Everton if his transfer is to come through.

For one, Spence's pace is something Everton lacks within their squad, and he has been linked by The Athletic.

However, more interestingly, he could reignite a relationship he once had with midfielder Garner.

At Nottingham Forest, Spence and Garner were part of a team that often found themselves on the winning side.

When the English pair were both on the pitch, Forest maintained an impressive 62 per cent win rate over 45 games.

That stretch also saw just seven losses for the Tricky Trees.

In that campaign, Forest would go on to secure their promotion to the Premier League via the play-offs with both Spence and Garner key to that.

After already having success elsewhere, a reunion could now be on the cards.

What does David Moyes want from his full backs?

Everton fans have grown tired of O'Brien being forced out of position, but Moyes may actually be feeling the same.

The decision to move O'Brien out wide may actually be down to just the poor options the Scotsman has.

Writing for The Times before the 2026 World Cup, Moyes said about football in general: "Don’t we need more of these wide players with traditional crossing skills?"

So, Moyes may very well want to bring in someone of Spence's ilk, who can take his man on down the wing with his pace, and float a ball into the box.

Everton are certainly not short of those tall number nines that would benefit from such actions, with Thierno Barry and Beto at the club.