Southampton FC considering move for Manchester United midfielder James Garner

By Stephen Emerson

8 March 2022

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Manchester United's Old Trafford ground

Southampton FC are considering a move for Manchester United midfielder James Garner who is currently on loan with Nottingham Forest.

The 20 year-old has impressed during his spell with the Championship side and has made 29 appearances this season for The Reds.

Southampton FC are, reports The Sun, tracking the England Under-21 international and are considering making a move in the summer transfer window with Leeds United also keen on the player.

A loan move for Garner could prove a more realistic option for The Saints with Manchester United's technical director Darren Fletcher recently quoted saying that the club had plans to included the youngster in their first team pre-season plans.

The move would fit in with Southampton FC's transfer approach outlined by CEO Martin Semmens last month.

Semmens said the club had to box clever in the transfer market if they are to compete against better funded clubs.

Martin Semmens, who was appointed CEO in 2019, told BBC Radio Five Live:

“People assume that we want to sell players to make money. It has absolutely nothing to do with money, it’s to do with the pathway,” said Semmens.

“If you don’t let, say, Tino Livramento go to Liverpool one day when they want him, then the next one doesn’t come in.

“We don’t want the money, we would much rather have that fantastic player but if you don’t give people the view they could one day replace Sadio Mane at Liverpool, they don’t want to be here.

“The ultimate destination for us is not about where we finish in the league – it’s about providing a competitive advantage against the guys with more money.

“Let’s say Everton have spent £300m on players more than we have since I’ve been in the job, Aston Villa spent £150m more than we did last summer, so how are we going to beat these teams?

“And our way is about creating a better environment, being 2% better at everything from medicine to food to doctors to cleaning the building, every tiny detail.

“That’s our way of winning – it’s not because we love young people or because we think we are going to make more money out of it, it’s because that’s how we think we are going to win games.”

By Stephen Emerson

Stephen Emerson is the Managing Editor of The Business Magazine and is responsible for the publication's print publications and online properties including the newly launched Biz News websites in Hampshire and Dorset.

Stephen has been a journalist for 20 years and has worked at local, regional and national publications and led a team which made The Scotsman website one of the fastest growing news sites in the UK with over eight million monthly users.

He has a keen interest in technology, property and corporate finance and telling the stories of the people behind the successful firms in these sectors.