At a glance
- James Garner left Manchester United in 2022
- Everton man has excelled under David Moyes
- Reds need to replace Casemiro
There was once an unwritten rule at Old Trafford. It was written that once you left Manchester United, the only way was down. These days, that script has been totally flipped.
Parallel with United’s misfortunes on the pitch, departing players have enjoyed their time away from the Red Devils – whether that be in Europe or elsewhere. You do not need to look that far back to find transfers that flopped at United who have quickly turned around their careers.
Antony, Rasmus Hojlund, and Aaron Wan-Bissaka are just some examples of handpicked players brought in by previous regimes to ‘transform’ United, but who have severely underwhelmed.
Finding Happiness Away from Old Trafford
While that trio found happiness elsewhere, Old Trafford has a damaging reputation as a graveyard for footballers. It has gone beyond years of failed transfers and has seeped into the academy of products shaped at Carrington.
Scott McTominay is the greatest example of a boy who came through the ranks only to excel elsewhere. Remarkably, the Scotsman played 255 times for United but was often misprofiled and undervalued by fans.
It didn’t take long for him to become a cult hero at Napoli, helping them secure the Serie A title for the fourth time in their history in 2024/25.
The rise of James Garner
Marcus Rashford, Alvaro Carreras and Anthony are others who fit the criteria of finding success away from Old Trafford. One other name is James Garner, who has found himself at the heart of Everton’s team this season under David Moyes.
In January, Garner signed a new contract at the Merseyside club, which runs through to June 2030. However, his contract was due to expire this summer before the Toffees quickly acted in light of his form.
The combination of Casemiro’s departure, United’s recent form, and the return of Champions League football could tempt Garner into a reunion with his old club. The 24-year-old was heavily linked with a move back to Old Trafford in December when Ruben Amorim was still at the helm. Even now, the romantic idea of a return should not be ruled out.
The numbers don’t lie
The former United man is currently second in the league for total tackles (93) and interceptions (50). It is worth noting that some of his numbers in key areas are inflated. Even this is a tribute to him, touched by his versatility to play at right-back and in central midfield.
Garner was sold to Everton in 2022 for £15m. It represented the first time in years that United made a sizeable profit on an academy product. Now is the time to bring him back.
He offers the tenacity of a number six with the discipline of a player who will give it his all. Understandably, the club was reluctant to move for any player in January with the search for a long-term manager ongoing. However, the task at hand for Omar Berrada and Jason Wilcox is a mammoth one: replacing Casemiro. A familiar face like Garner’s shoulders little risk for a player already known to the club.
