Man Utd 'eye surprise January transfer' for former star Erik ten Hag sold for £15m

Manchester United are considering a surprise January swoop for one of their former midfielders to strengthen Ruben Amorim's squad, according to reports. The Red Devils are looking to beef up their options in the centre of the pitch given both the lack of fit and available senior players in the short term and concern over the long-term futures of Bruno Fernandes, Casemiro and Kobbie Mainoo. The Daily Mail say that Everton's James Garner has emerged as an option for United for the winter window with his contract on Merseyside expiring next summer.

Garner left United in September 2022 when Erik ten Hag was in charge and joined the Toffees for £15million. He has since racked up over 100 appearances for the club. The 24-year-old, who only enjoyed two Premier League outings for United before leaving Old Trafford, is seen as an affordable option given his contract situation. And United chiefs have intensified conversations about signing a midfielder in January in recent weeks.

United are also understood to be keen to sign Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest in the summer. But a mid-season move for Garner would not block a big-money swoop for the England World Cup hopeful in six months' time.

Everton are holding ongoing talks with Garner's camp in an effort to tie him down. The Toffees have an option to extend his current agreement by an extra 12 months but want to agree an extended deal. There has not been significant progress in those discussions, which has given United hope of snatching him away.

While United's planned midfield rebuild was initially seen as a priority for the summer, the club's board are optimistic that Garner - who joined them at under-8s level - could present an opportunity to fast-track the process somewhat.

Amorim has already teased additions next month when he said: "We have space to have more players, but it is a very important thing in our club that we have a plan and we need to bring players that we know. It's hard to know for sure that everything is going to work, but we need to be certain of the players that we bring [in]. If we are not sure, it's better not to bring anyone and to work with the players that we have. That is clear for me."

Amorim has been left short on options in midfield following captain Fernandes' rare injury. Lisandro Martinez was deployed alongside Manuel Ugarte at Aston Villa after the skipper was forced off at half-time. Ugarte was then replaced by academy product and debutant Jack Fletcher in the second half.

And Garner would slot straight into the side if United were able to strike a January deal with Everton to bring the player back to Manchester.

Grilled about his future earlier this month, Garner told journalists: "I haven't thought much about it, no. I am just touching in week in, week out. You can't really think too far ahead.

"So week in, week out, I am just trying to get better as a player and try and help the team as much as I can. Of course, we have come on leaps and bounds since I first joined the club, so we are definitely moving in the right direction."