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.
ALAN SHEARER NAMES MAN CITY CLEAR FAVORITES FOR THE 2026 PREMIER LEAGUE TITLE CROWN
Manchester City beat Arsenal 2-1. Alan Shearer discusses why the title race is now firmly in City’s hands.
Alan Shearer came away really impressed by how Arsenal played against Manchester City, but he thinks their earlier slip-up against Bournemouth could end up being what costs them the Premier League title.
City closed the gap to just three points behind Arsenal with a 2-1 win in Sunday’s big clash, with Erling Haaland bagging the winner at the Etihad. Kai Havertz managed to pull Arsenal back into the game after a disastrous mistake by Gianluigi Donnarumma, and that was right after Rayan Cherki had given City the lead with a bit of magic.
Havertz had a golden chance to equalise late on after Eberechi Eze hit the post, but he couldn’t finish it. You could see the frustration on the faces of the Arsenal players; they’ll be kicking themselves for missing those chances in the days ahead.
The win puts City in a great position. They have a game in hand, and if they beat struggling Burnley at Turf Moor on Wednesday, they’ll go top of the table. Arsenal, meanwhile, are back at home on Saturday against Newcastle, and with just one win in their last six games, it’s hard to see that as anything other than a must-win for them.
Shearer didn’t hold back when he talked about Arsenal’s performance. On The Rest Is Football podcast, he said, “Where was this last weekend against Bournemouth?" Where was this fight, this urgency? Because honestly, I think that’s the game that’ll haunt them, not today. They were flat against Bournemouth. Against City, though, they looked sharp. You can’t really complain about how they played this time; they took the game to City, created loads, and really gave it a go. It was a brilliant match.”
Shearer still thinks City are now the clear favourites for the title, but he fully expects more drama before it’s all over. “Arsenal had their moments. They missed some huge chances, Havertz’s header at the end, that one-on-one, but you have to back City now. Look at the past month or so: the teams they’ve beaten, the way they’ve played. But I still don’t believe both City and Arsenal will win all their remaining games. There’s bound to be another twist.”
On a lighter note, Shearer joked that at least Arsenal won’t have it too tough next weekend, coming up against a Newcastle side stuck in a four-game losing streak. “Look, if only football were that simple, everyone just winning every match, it’d be boring. I’ve been in those title races myself; I know how tense it gets. It never goes perfectly for anyone. The one positive for Arsenal is that they’ve got Newcastle next, and they’re in terrible form. That’s something to hold onto.”
When asked if City should be considered the outright favourites now, Shearer didn’t hesitate: “Yeah, definitely. They’ve got a game in hand; they’re on a roll; they’ve got the momentum. They’re favourites now, no doubt about it.”
ROBERTO DE ZERBI ISSUES BOLD CLAIM, BACKING WINLESS SPURS TO WIN REMAINING FIVE GAMES
Tottenham suffer late 2-2 draw against Brighton. Read why Roberto De Zerbi believes they can still avoid relegation.
Tottenham let three crucial points slip away on Saturday, conceding a late equaliser to Brighton. Spurs looked set for a win after Xavi Simons put them 2-1 up in the 77th minute, but a Kevin Danso error handed Georginio Rutter the chance to score five minutes into stoppage time.
That goal stung. Spurs could’ve moved out of the relegation zone, at least for a day or two, since Nottingham Forest and West Ham weren’t playing until later in the weekend.
The draw also means Robert De Zerbi is still waiting for his first win as Spurs boss, though at least he’s finally earned his first point. Right now, Tottenham sits just one point from safety, but if results go the wrong way, they could be four points adrift by the end of the gameweek.
If Spurs want to survive, they have to start winning. Next up is a must-win against the bottom club Wolves. Nothing less will do, especially with tough games against Aston Villa, Leeds United, Chelsea, and Everton closing out the season.
De Zerbi Clearly Rates Simons
Big performances from key players are Spurs’ only way out, and Xavi Simons is right at the heart of that. De Zerbi was impressed with what he saw from the Dutch midfielder against Brighton.
“He played very well. "A great game", De Zerbi told football.london. “I think he can get even better, because a player like this needs to feel confidence from the manager. I’m here to give him all the confidence he needs.
“When I played, I was a number 10 myself, so I understand what he’s thinking. I think I’m lucky to have him, but he’s lucky too, because as a former number 10, I might understand him better than most coaches.”
Simons has six goals and seven assists this season. If he keeps those numbers climbing in the last few matches, Spurs have a real shot at staying up, especially since Kulusevski and Kudus are still out. The good news? James Maddison is fit again after a bad knee injury in preseason, and he’s set to return in the next week or so.
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