CHRISTOPHER VIVELL CONFIRMS STANCE ON 24-YEAR-OLD EVERTON STAR DEAL
Manchester United will NOT re-sign Everton midfielder James Garner, despite his contract expiring. Director Christopher Vivell has decided against a move for the former Red Devils academy graduate.
Manchester United decision made on James Garner - COURTESY/PHOTO
James Garner, a defensive midfielder, has been linked to a return to Manchester United as his contract with Everton comes to an end. However, the Red Devils do not intend to re-sign him, according to Dean Jones via TEAMtalk.
Even though the academy graduate's contract expires at the end of the current campaign, Manchester United's head of recruiting, Christopher Vivell, has made the decision not to bring the 24-year-old back to Old Trafford.
At Manchester United, James Garner rose through the ranks. They ultimately gained money off the Englishman in the summer of 2022, despite the fact that he was promoted to the first team and even made seven senior appearances. Since the move would ensure consistent playing time, the English midfielder was also eager to make the move.
James Garner has played in 97 games over the years and has even helped score eight goals. The 24-year-old can play any position in the middle of the park and can even fill in as a left-back when necessary, but he likes to play defensive midfield.
There are rumours that James Garner will return to Old Trafford.
The 24-year-old is still a vital member of their first squad, but his contract is about to expire, thus his future is uncertain. According to reports, Manchester United is monitoring its academy graduate.
James Garner is viewed as an intriguing possibility by the Premier League's top teams, who are seeking more depth and skill in the middle of the park to strengthen their midfield. It is tempting to consider bringing him back on a free transfer. Jones, though, has implied that they have changed their minds.
"Garner is enjoying himself lately, but in terms of actually joining Man Utd, I do not think that moment is approaching," the transfer insider said when discussing Garner's future. I would not think the club is taking it too seriously based on the way it is developing and changing.
They are aware of his predicament, of course, and I understand why there may be conjecture. You might even argue that he would be really beneficial to them right now, in my opinion.
They clearly value him and have always recognised his ability. However, Everton wants him to stay, other teams are keeping an eye on him, and I do not think there will be much attention given to Man Utd's transfer trajectory in 2026.
The Red Devils are not considering James Garner as a midfield addition, despite the fact that they respect him and are aware of his circumstances. The group led by Ruben Amorim has alternative ideas for the future.
Everton, meanwhile, is eager to keep him on board and will speak with his team about a new, long-term contract. Even though numerous elite teams are vying for his signing, the Toffees are sure he will sign a contract.
BOLOGNA 2-0 NAPOLI — ANTONIO CONTE’S DOWNFALL CONTINUES
Noa Lang and David Neres were heroic at both ends, with Lang hitting the post and Neres making a vital goal-line block. The substitutes nearly stole a win in a dramatic finale.
Jhon Lucumi of Bologna FC 1909 celebrates scoring his team’s second goal with teammates - Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images
With a shocking 2-0 loss at Bologna, where Thijs Dallinga and Jhon Lucumi were crucial, Napoli continued their winless skid.
Despite injuries to Kevin De Bruyne, Leonardo Spinazzola, Billy Gilmour, Alex Meret, and Romelu Lukaku, the Partenopei were still one point ahead of the leaders after two straight goalless draws against Como and Eintracht Frankfurt. The Rossoblu also lost 0-0 to SK Brann in the Europa League on Thursday after being reduced to ten men for more than an hour. Alongside Nicola Ravaglia and Ciro Immobile, Remo Freuler will be sidelined for two months due to a fractured collarbone.
Bologna had the worst possible start when Lukasz Skorupski was hurt while taking a goal kick. Ravaglia was also out, thus 17-year-old Massimo Pessina made his Serie A debut.
On a corner, Jhon Lucumi nodded just wide of a favourable position, and Rasmus Hojlund's single effort was deflected over.
In minute thirty-two, Vanja Milinkovic-Savic made the first major stop, reaching down to palm the long-range attempt from Jonathan Rowe around the base of the upright.
Rowe also sustained an injury that forced him out at halftime, but Thijs Dallinga missed the near post with a free header.
Bologna took the lead when Dallinga, who was ahead of Amir Rrahmani, flicked in at the near post from six yards out after replacement Nicolò Cambiaghi went down the left and drew back from the by-line.
Hojlund risked more than a yellow card for a reaction foul on Lewis Ferguson, and Orsolini put Milinkovic-Savic to the test with a daring shot at the near post.
After a free kick, Emil Holm stood up a cross from the right and found Lucumi for the header from six yards out, his first Serie A goal, doubling Bologna's advantage.
Bologna had the worst possible start when Lukasz Skorupski was hurt while taking a goal kick. Ravaglia was also out, thus 17-year-old Massimo Pessina made his Serie A debut.
On a corner, Jhon Lucumi nodded just wide of a favourable position, and Rasmus Hojlund's single effort was deflected over.
In minute thirty-two, Vanja Milinkovic-Savic made the first major stop, reaching down to palm the long-range attempt from Jonathan Rowe around the base of the upright.
Rowe also sustained an injury that forced him out at halftime, but Thijs Dallinga missed the near post with a free header.
Bologna took the lead when Dallinga, who was ahead of Amir Rrahmani, flicked in at the near post from six yards out after replacement Nicolò Cambiaghi went down the left and drew back from the by-line.
Hojlund risked more than a yellow card for a reaction foul on Lewis Ferguson, and Orsolini put Milinkovic-Savic to the test with a daring shot at the near post.
After a free kick, Emil Holm stood up a cross from the right and found Lucumi for the header from six yards out, his first Serie A goal, doubling Bologna's advantage.
ASTON VILLA DESTROY BOURNEMOUTH 4-0 — DOMINANT DISPLAY FROM EMERY’S MEN
Aston Villa crushed Bournemouth 4-0 for their sixth straight home win. Emi Buendía and Amadou Onana scored stunning long-range strikes before Ross Barkley and Donyell Malen sealed the dominant victory.
Aston Villa 4-0 AFC Bournemouth - COURTESY/PHOTO
In a thrilling match at Villa Park, Emi Buendía opened the scoring with a diving 20-yard free-kick in the 28th minute, his fourth goal of the season.
Amadou Onana then took advantage of the ideal opportunity to extend the hosts' lead with a long-range goal, his first of the season, just before halftime.
It made it possible for five straight Premier League goals to come from outside the area, which is only the fourth time in the tournament that a team has had five or more long-range goals in a row and the first in fourteen years.
After the break, Emi Martínez was Villa's hero, tipping over Alex Scott's looping strike with a world-class stop to preserve Antoine Semenyo's penalty in the 67th minute.
Before Ross Barkley glanced home Lucas Digne's corner and fellow substitute Donyell Malen denied Youri Tielemans' attempt to seal the victory, Evanilson also headed against a post.
With just one loss in their past 24 home league games, Unai Emery's Villa secured their eighth victory in ten games.
In the UEFA Europa League victory over Maccabi Tel Aviv on Thursday, Emery made six changes to Villa's starting lineup, with the return of Buendía, Digne, Matty Cash, Boubacar Kamara, John McGinn, and Ollie Watkins.
A fan-led papercard display and banner were also held up in the Holte End on Remembrance Sunday. Both sides, sporting poppies on their shirts, lined up alongside members of the Armed Forces for the laying of a wreath, a poem reading, a period of silence, and a performance of "The Last Post."
Following a terrible head-on collision that forced the visitors into an early change, Cash tried to loft the ball over the Cherries' keeper but was stopped by an oncoming Djordje Petrovic.
Scott's corner bounced against the top of the crossbar at the other end after Kamara's long-range attempt was parried.
Marcus Tavernier's free shot from the edge of the box went over the crossbar in a thrilling opening to the match.
A few minutes later, however, Villa took the lead with a nearly identical set-piece at the other end, with Buendía's well-placed shot going over the wall and past Petrovic.
Watkins' low strike was deflected into the side netting after Villa, with their tails up and supported by the home crowd, allowed the visitors to clear their lines.
In the 40th minute of a thrilling first session, the home team doubled their lead after being prevented by more desperate defending.
Rogers executed a brilliant move down the left and passed the ball to Onana, who touched it and then sent a low shot from 25 yards out into the bottom corner.
To maintain Villa's lead, Martínez made an incredible stop in the 55th minute, backpedalling to tip over Scott's deflected, looping effort.
Before Villa, who were down early in the second half, cleared their lines under pressure, Evanilson headed against a post.
In the 67th minute, the visitors had a chance to cut Villa's lead in half, but Martínez made a fantastic save to tip away Semenyo's penalty after Rogers was given a handballing penalty.
Shortly after, Villa's attacking midfielder missed by a close margin, and the home team quickly secured all three points.
After just six minutes on the field, Barkley got up to flick Digne's corner past Petrovic and into the far corner.
The ball was played to Tielemans on the edge of the box after another skillfully executed corner routine. His low effort struck substitute Malen before going wrong-footed by Petrovic to add a fourth.
The Netherlands international had a late chance to score a second goal as Villa's outstanding performance against the Cherries made it six games without a loss.