Just over a week ago, it was said that Tottenham submitted a bid to sign James Garner from Manchester United, with Newcastle and Leeds also keen.
Erik ten Hag has decided to sell the England Under-21 international, after he put his name up in lights when helping Nottingham Forest win the Championship play-off final during a loan spell last season.
Manchester United are demanding £14m for their No.37 this summer, a sum which is currently putting Tottenham and Leeds off – however, Newcastle are not said to be troubled by it.
Now, there has been another interesting development.
What’s the story?
Well, Garner seemed to edge one step closer to leaving Old Trafford after Ten Hag left him out of the squad completely in last night’s 2-1 win over Liverpool.
While the 21-year-old is yet to play any Premier League football this season, he has at least been named on the bench for the 2-1 defeat to Brighton and the 4-0 loss to Brentford.
Therefore, his absence from the 25-man squad is certainly worth reading into.
It comes after Southampton were said to be leading the race to sign Garner, as the Saints aim to continue their policy of hoovering up the best under-23 talent from the Premier League’s elite.
Manchester United showed no signs whatsoever that they need Garner – as talented as he is – as they bossed a shellshocked Liverpool side, with their new £70m stalwart Casemiro watching from the stands.
With such an imperious figure arriving at Old Trafford – one who plays in the same position as Garner – you have to say that the Newcastle, Leeds and Tottenham target seems to have no future under Ten Hag.
Newcastle, Leeds or Tottenham can benefit from Casemiro arrival
In our view, the signing of Casemiro is the final nail in the coffin for Garner.
The Birkenhead-born playmaker has only ever made seven first-team appearances for Manchester United, and that was when he was competing with the likes of Fred and Scott McTominay.
If Garner couldn’t get in ahead of those two, we highly doubt his chances of first-team football have improved now Casemiro is in Manchester.
Keep an eye on this situation, as we expect the Manchester United academy graduate to be on the move shortly.
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