Danny Murphy has urged James Garner to made a decision on his future as soon as possible amid reports Manchester United want to re-sign the Everton star.
Garner was tipped for a bright future at Old Trafford after coming through the Carrington academy and impressing on loan at Nottingham Forest, playing a key role in their promotion to the Premier League.
But he would make just a handful of first-team appearances for United before Erik ten Hag sold the versatile player to Everton in 2022 in a deal worth up to £15million.
The 24-year-old has done well on Merseyside and is currently enjoying his best season in the top-flight, earning acclaim for his performances as a box-to-box midfielder, right-back and left-back.
Everton are up to eighth in the table after a 2-0 win at Forest on Tuesday night where Garner scored the opener before setting up Thierno Barry’s goal.
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His efforts have caught the eye of his former employers, with Ruben Amorim looking to sign a cut-price midfielder in the January transfer window.
Garner fits the bill as his contract is due to expire in the summer, though the Toffees have the option to extend it by another year.
Speaking on Match of the Day, Murphy showered the Englishman with praise but could not believe that he has been allowed to enter the final few months of his contract.
‘He goes under the radar a little bit. [Kiernan] Dewsbury-Hall, [Jack] Grealish, [Iliman] Ndiaye tend to get a lot of the headlines when Everton have done well this season,’ the former Liverpool star said.
‘But he’s been terrific and today was arguably his best performance of the season. He’s filled in in various positions. He’s playing in midfield at the moment, he’s enjoying it, he’s technically very good.
‘This [Garner’s goal] is a brilliant finish, first chance Everton had in the game, a really, really good finish.
‘I like the fact he can play quick, he knows when he’s got time on the ball. He travels with the ball nicely, he can get Everton up the pitch at times and just release that pressure.
‘He’s a clever footballer, he’s not physically that big and doesn’t rely so much on the aggressive side of the game. He’s capable of scoring from long range.
‘He does the hard work, you can’t play in the middle of the park unless you’re prepared to get back into defensive areas and block crosses and stick with your runners.
‘As a midfielder, this type of assist is the most pleasing, lovely bit of skill and beautiful weight of pass. This is top midfield play, it deserved a goal for the brilliance of the pass.
‘He’s got to get his contract sorted. He’s out of contract at the end of the season which is unbelievable really.’
Aside from Garner, United are looking at signing ex-Chelsea star Conor Gallagher from Atletico Madrid and former Wolves captain Ruben Neves who wants to return to the Premier League from Al-Hilal.
Amorim has a long list of midfielders on his wishlist but top targets like Forest’s Elliott Anderson, Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton and Brighton’s Carlos Baleba won’t be available till the summer.
United begin 2026 with a trip to fierce rivals Leeds United on Sunday, January 4, while at the same time Garner’s Everton host Brentford.
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