Swansea City and Sheffield Wednesday are competing to sign Manchester United starlet James Garner on loan, according to The Sun (17 May, page 58).
A Birkenhead-born 19-year-old is not the only United starlet to be labelled Michael Carrick’s heir apparent, but it seems that he is a lot closer to the Red Devils’s first-team than Sean Goss ever was.
Garner has impressed Ole Gunnar Solskjaer with his maturity and passing range, making a Premier League debut off the bench at Norwich while featuring four times in the Europa League group-stage.
But with Bruno Fernandes already taking on talismanic status, flanked by the ever-improving Scott McTominay and Fred plus a reborn Nemanja Matic, Garner’s development may be aided by a move away from the Theatre of Dreams – at least on a short-term basis.
The Sun reports that Swansea are battling Championship rivals Sheffield Wednesday for the teenager’s signature.
The smart money is on a move to the Liberty Stadium, with Swans boss Steve Cooper boasting a superb track record when it comes to working with youngsters. He led an England side containing Phil Foden, Jadon Sancho and Callum Hudson-Odoi to glory at the U17 World Cup after all.
Furthermore, Cooper’s preference for pretty, passing football should suit the technically gifted Garner down to the ground.
“I believe he has got the chance to have a great future. Of course, he has to keep working,” Solskjaer told the MUFC website recently.
”He knows we believe in him. We have great faith in him as the next Michael Carrick. I know he’s young and it’s not fair on kids to compare them to great players like Michael was, but he’s in the same mould.”
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
