Southampton FC face competition for Manchester United youngster James Garner

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Stephen Emerson

Manchester United's James Garner is a target for Southampton and Leeds United

Southampton FC face competition from Leeds United for on loan Manchester United starlet James Garner, according to reports.

The midfielder is currently on loan at Nottingham Forest where he was put in a string of impressive performance which has, according to The Sun, attracted the interest of the St Mary's side and Leeds United.

The 20 year-old is currently under contract with the Old Trafford club who are understood to favour another loan spell but this time in the Premier League so that he can continue his development.

Garner has made 30 appearances in all competitions for Forest this season and has helped the City Ground side challenge for a play-off spot.

Southampton suffered a 2 -1 home defeat to Watford at the weekend with the St Mary's side losing two first half goals.

Moi Elyounoussi who pulled one back for The Saints before half time said giving away an "easy" goal early on in the match made it difficult to turn the match around.

He said: “We’re disappointed because it wasn’t what was expected. Obviously, we gave away a really easy goal and they started believing it as well. They got the second and that made it tougher for ourselves.

“I knew that if we got the next goal we could turn things around. We couldn’t turn all those chances into goals and that was also disappointing.

“We know the last couple of games we’ve conceded first and that makes things a little bit harder and Watford could just sit deeper and try to counter-attack while we tried to risk a bit more. That’s how the second came as well.

“In the end when I look around in the dressing room I see the players are disappointed and angry but I can sense a feeling that we want to bounce back as quickly as possible.

“We need to find the solution for the next one because against those teams, they’re always going to make it difficult for you."

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.