Man Utd include former player in eight-man shortlist for first January transfer

Manchester United have former academy star James Garner on their transfer shortlist as they look to strengthen Ruben Amorim's squad. A central midfielder is among the club's priorities moving forward having strengthened their forward line in the summer.

Garner, 24, departed Old Trafford for Goodison Park in 2022 in a transfer worth up to £15million. The England under-21 season had spent the previous season on loan at Nottingham Forest and saw Casemiro and Christian Eriksen arrive before making his exit.

After impressing in more than a century of games for Everton, United appear to be considering whether to tempt Garner back to his first club. Garner has just six months remaining on his contract, but Everton are said to have an option to extend his deal for a further year.

Garner is one of eight names United are pondering, according to Mail Online. The club made approaches for Carlos Baleba and Conor Gallagher in the summer and retain interest in the Brighton and Atletico Madrid stars.

Gallagher could be available in Januaryif United are willing to stump up £35m. As they outlined in the summer, the La Liga side would insist on a sale rather than a loan deal.

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Crystal Palace ace Adam Wharton and Bournemouth midfielder Tyler Adams are also of interest to the Red Devils, as is Joao Gomes of Wolves. Ruben Neves is another player United are looking at as he nears the end of his contract with Saudi club Al-Hilal.

Nottingham Forest and England star Elliot Anderson is reportedly top of the club's wishlist, however. The ex-Newcastle star is unlikely to be available in January and United could find themselves with stiff competition in the summer.

Garner could prove to be a cost-effective option, with plans to spend more in the summer to prise Anderson from the City Ground.

Everton boss David Moyes has suggested he has no plans to let Garner leave "Look, I wouldn't be letting [Garner] go and I think the Club will do everything they can to make sure that he stays," he said earlier in December,

"It's probably a bit of a difference and shows signs [of progression] because I'm not sure many clubs have been after many Everton players in the past but now they're maybe starting to take a bit of interest, which is a good sign.

"Hopefully he signs a new contract when the time comes but at the end of the season he's got an option [of an extra year extension] as well so, obviously, we'll be on that, if we need to be."