DAVID MOYES STOPS IT: JAMES GARNER TRANSFER FUTURE DECIDED AMID VILLA LINKS
Everton boss David Moyes will block a winter exit for James Garner amid interest from Aston Villa & Newcastle. The in-demand midfielder's contract is expiring, but Moyes sees him as a vital part of his plans.
James Garner's contract is nearing its end, sparking interest from clubs like Aston Villa and Newcastle United, who are hoping for a bargain in the winter transfer window.
But Pete O’Rourke from Football Insider reports that David Moyes wants to keep the Manchester United product for the rest of the season. Even with the contract issues, the Everton coach plans to reject any winter offers.
O’Rourke’s thoughts on Garner:
Garner is attracting attention from many clubs because of his contract situation, O'Rourke noted.
Everton will do all they can to keep him.
You could say he’s been Everton’s best player this season, and David Moyes even suggested he deserves an England call-up because of how well he’s been playing.
He’s a flexible player, able to play in midfield but also fill in at right-back and left-back, which shows how valuable he is to Everton.
With his contract nearing its end, Everton will want to start talks about a new one, as David Moyes would hate to lose such a key player.
Teams like Newcastle, Villa, Nottingham Forest, and West Ham are watching him, but Everton will be doing everything possible to get him to sign a new deal.
Garner joined Everton from Manchester United in the summer of 2022. The 24-year-old defensive midfielder has grown as a player during his time with the Toffees, playing in almost 100 games.
Despite his contract nearing its end, the United product is a regular starter under Moyes and could leave for nothing at the end of the season.
Because he’s been playing so well, Everton is doing their best to secure his future with a new contract. But there hasn't been much progress.
With his deal running down, teams like Aston Villa and Newcastle are hoping for a cheap move in January. Both clubs want to add quality and depth to their midfield, and they see Garner as a good fit. The 24-year-old would not only improve their midfield but can also play in different positions.
Moyes won’t allow Garner to leave.
Garner has a lot of potential, and Villa and Newcastle see this as a chance to get a talented player. But it will be tough to sign him in the next transfer window.
Moyes sees him as a key part of his plans and doesn't want to sell him during the season. Even if this is Everton’s last chance to get money from his sale, Moyes is still expected to block any move.
While the club hasn’t made progress on a new contract, they still plan to hold talks soon, hoping to keep other teams away with a new, long-term deal.
WEST HAM’S JANUARY OVERHAUL CONTINUES AS ANDREAS SCHJELDERUP TALKS FOLLOW CASTELLANOS AND PABLO
The Hammers are the busiest team in January. Discover the latest on the plan to pair Schjelderup with new signing Taty Castellanos.
Gianluca Di Marzio reports that West Ham United are in the running to sign Andreas Schjelderup this month. The London club has already discussed a possible transfer for the attacker, since Nuno Espirito Santo wants to bring in wide players this month after getting strikers in the first few days of January.
West Ham United are trying hard this month to strengthen its team and improve its chances of avoiding relegation. The Hammers are currently 18th in the league, seven points from safety, so Nuno Espírito Santo has a tough job.
The Hammers have already signed Taty Castellanos from Lazio and Pablo from Gil Vicente, which fixes their striker problem. Callum Wilson will probably leave, since West Ham is talking about ending his contract early.
Espirito Santo will now focus on getting wide attackers, with plans to sign players for both wings. Fulham’s Adama Traore is a target, and the Hammers might be able to sign the Spanish winger. There are worries about Crysencio Summerville's form, so Espirito Santo might consider a different player to compete with him on the left.
Several players have been mentioned, with 21-year-old winger Andreas Schjelderup being the latest. The Benfica player is expected to leave this month, with growing interest from other clubs, including Italian side Parma.
West Ham have reportedly talked about signing the 21-year-old winger, with Benfica possibly viewing the Norwegian as expendable. If the Portuguese club gets a good offer, they might consider selling him, since the Norwegian might be interested in playing in the Premier League.
There might be some worries about joining West Ham given their difficult situation in the Premier League. But the 21-year-old winger might see this move as a chance to prove himself in the Premier League, meaning he might be open to joining the London team.
ASTON VILLA LAUNCH MOVE FOR MLS STARLET GOZO TO BOLSTER YOUTH RANKS
Aston Villa are looking to the MLS for its next star. Get the latest details on the enquiry for Real Salt Lake's Zavier Gozo.
Unai Emery and his team are on the hunt for fresh young talent, and now their search has brought them to Major League Soccer. According to transfer insider Matteo Moretto, Aston Villa recently reached out to Real Salt Lake about their promising forward, Zavier Gozo.
Villa’s interest in Gozo isn’t just talk—they actually contacted the staff in Utah to see what it would take to bring the 18-year-old to Birmingham. They see real potential in him and want to develop him in their academy. This isn’t just some distant scouting mission. It fits perfectly with Villa’s bigger strategy: sign top young players before their value skyrockets in Europe.
Gozo’s made a name for himself in Real Salt Lake’s youth system and has already broken into the first team. He’s also caught the eye of scouts across Europe with his performances for the USA U20s.
Talks are still early, but Villa clearly think Gozo could one day push for first-team minutes. Since Emery arrived, the club has put serious effort into signing young prospects. Bringing in a quick North American forward fits right in with the way they want to play. Fans will see this as another sign of Villa’s ambition to build a winning team for the long haul.
So, why does Emery want this American speedster? Gozo’s got the right tools for English football—he’s fast, direct, and can play out wide or through the middle. He loves running at defenders and creating chances, which is exactly what Emery wants from his wide players. Gozo’s already shown at MLS NEXT Pro and the senior MLS level that he’s got the energy and movement. Villa rely on counter-attacks. On top of that, he works hard off the ball, pressing from the front—something Emery always asks of his attackers.
Of course, there’s the question of whether Gozo’s ready for the physical side of the Premier League. The jump from MLS is tough, and he’ll probably need time with the U21s or maybe a loan before he’s ready for the first team.
Still, this move just makes sense for Villa’s future. Emery has proven he can develop raw talent into reliable players for his system. If they sign Gozo now, they get a young player they can shape without any rush for immediate results.