Midfielder James Garner could return to Nottingham Forest next season, it has been claimed.
What happens at Wembley next week will have a significant impact on the Reds’ summer transfer business, both in terms of potential incomings and outgoings. And that includes what might happen to loanees such as Garner.
The Manchester United youngster has been at the heart of Forest’s promotion push during his second spell at the City Ground. He has gone from strength to strength under the guidance of head coach Steve Cooper, putting in a string of accomplished performances.
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It has been suggested he will be given a chance to stake his claim for a place in United’s first-team squad in the summer. But the Manchester Evening News say a decision will only be made when new boss Erik ten Hag officially takes up post at Old Trafford.
And they add there is “still a chance” another loan move could be in the offing, with Forest “the perfect destination” should promotion be achieved - giving Garner the opportunity to test himself in the top-flight. A return to Trentside, it is said, would allow the 21-year-old to “gain some game-time rather than spend time on the bench as a rotation option at United”.
Given the progress Garner has made under Cooper, the MEN suggest the Reds could also be a potential destination for other United players who need to build up their experience, such as Amad, Facundo Pellistri, Alvaro Fernandez, Teden Mengi and Ethan Laird.
Garner has also been linked with Leeds United and Southampton. Technical director Darren Fletcher has previously said the top-flight heavyweights will cast an eye over the England Under-21 international and his fellow loanees ahead of the 2022/23 season.
"I’m working closely with Nick Cox, as head of academy, to look at the long-term strategy for bringing players through,” Fletcher said. “We have to manage the balance between allowing them to develop and creating the right steps for that, without piling the pressure onto them.
"Along with Nick, I’m looking at how we best use the loan system to give academy players invaluable experience at other clubs. We currently have 13 young players and academy products on loan and playing regularly in other divisions or leagues.
"Hopefully we’ll see players like Brandon Williams, Teden Mengi, Jimmy Garner, Ethan Laird, Tahith Chong, and Amad Diallo reap the benefits of that. All of them are doing really well on loan and we’re excited to bring them back in pre-season to see how they fare with our first-team players.”
