THE GARNER EVOLUTION: HOW DAVID MOYES TRANSFORMED JAMES GARNER INTO EVERTON’S MOST RELIABLE STAR
Discover how James Garner’s form under David Moyes has put him on Thomas Tuchel’s England radar this March.
James Garner has quietly become one of Everton’s most reliable players this season.
He’s said it himself: working with David Moyes has taken his game up a notch compared to the Sean Dyche days. You can see it. He’s sharper, more confident, just more involved in everything. The club noticed, too, handing him a new contract to keep other Premier League teams from swooping in.
Honestly, with the way he’s playing, you have to give him a shot in the March friendlies. I’d throw Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall’s name in there too.
Look at the numbers. It’s obvious.
People are already talking about a possible England call-up for Garner. Even Thomas Tuchel has been keeping tabs on him this season. His versatility really sets him apart; he can slot in just about anywhere, even full-back, which he did against Manchester United on Monday.
After that narrow 1-0 loss at Old Trafford, Garner spoke with Everton’s website about being shifted to right-back. He just shrugged it off: “I don’t mind. I feel like I’ve played well wherever I’ve been this season. Left-back, right-back – it’s all the same to me. I felt comfortable.”
He made it clear: wherever the manager needs him, he’ll step in and do the job.
Still, you watch him in midfield, and it’s obvious that’s where he’s at his best. He brings this composure and calm that Everton really needs. Plus, he’s managed five goal involvements from midfield already, so you don’t want to waste that by sticking him out wide for too long.
Playing at full-back was really just a stopgap while Jake O’Brien served his suspension after that red card against Bournemouth.
Now, Garner has two more games to show Tuchel what he can do before squads get announced on March 12. It’s the same situation for Dewsbury-Hall and Jarrad Branthwaite; they’re all right there in the mix.
FULHAM TABLE €30M PACKAGE FOR BRAZILIAN MIDFIELDER DANILO TO SEAL SUMMER TRANSFER
Behind the race for Danilo. We look at why Fulham are targeting the in-form Brazilian midfielder for a PL return.
Fulham are right in the mix for Danilo now, with the midfielder’s name suddenly buzzing again around the Premier League.
At 24, Danilo turned things around at Botafogo after leaving Nottingham Forest, and he’s on fire lately. He looks like one of the best central midfielders in Brazil right now; his form’s making people take notice, both at home and abroad.
In 2026, Danilo scored 10 goals and picked up 3 assists in 23 games across all competitions. He’s not just padding his stats either; in the league, he has 7 goals in 10 matches. That’s a huge return for a central midfielder. He’s finding the net every 3.14 shots and averages over two shots a game.
Danilo isn’t just about goals, though. He completes about 45 passes a match, with nearly 87% accuracy, and he’s setting up chances too – almost two key passes per game.
So, it’s no surprise that Brazil have him locked in for the next World Cup squad. His profile and transfer value just keep climbing, and now there’s real movement in the market.
Fulham are showing intent with a concrete offer.
According to Globo Esporte, Fulham are ready to pay around €30 million (£26m) for Danilo. They’ve been here before, but this time they’re serious. The offer breaks down as €22m guaranteed and another €8m in bonuses matching Zenit’s proposal. Palmeiras want him as well, but pulling off a domestic transfer looks a lot more complicated.
That kind of money puts Fulham in a great spot, especially since Botafogo’s finances are shaky. The club really needs a big sale this summer, and Danilo’s value is peaking.
Unrest behind the scenes at Botafogo
The timing here isn’t accidental. Danilo’s 2026 surge has made him a leader in the dressing room, especially while Botafogo struggles with financial problems and ownership drama.
Folks inside the club see him as their most valuable asset. Selling him could solve a lot of problems. Earlier this year, things got tense; Danilo’s side even threatened to end his contract over unpaid image rights. And while that got sorted, it highlighted just how unstable things are.
Plus, there was the failed deal to send Danilo back to Nottingham Forest in January, scuppered when legal action stopped John Textor from making transfers unilaterally. Now Textor’s out, and the club has to take its big debts seriously.
Fulham have an open window.
All this makes a summer move feel right. Danilo wanted to stick with Botafogo until after the World Cup, but it’s clear now he’s ready; his stock’s never been higher, and top clubs are circling.
From Fulham’s side, they see a midfielder at his best, already experienced in England, playing well, and eager to come back.
And compared to his stint at Forest, this time things look a lot more promising for everyone involved.
So Fulham are lining everything up. Now, they just have to pull the trigger.
INSIDE CHELSEA’S DUGOUT SEARCH: CONTACT MADE WITH ANDONI IRAOLA’S REPRESENTATIVES FOR NEW ROLE
Chelsea’s hunt for stability: Iraola eyed for head coach, plus news on Nicolas Jackson’s future at Stamford Bridge this summer.
Andoni Iraola is one of several names Chelsea is considering as their next head coach this summer.
Rosenior. Last week, Chelsea let Rosenior go after just under four months in charge, even though he had more than five years left on his contract.
With seven losses from eight games, Chelsea decided to move on. They've put Calum McFarlane in charge for now, just until the end of the season. In the meantime, the club’s sporting directors are hunting for a new permanent boss, someone who can lead the club’s long-term plans.
Iraola, currently at Bournemouth, is one of the early candidates. He’ll be leaving his role at the Vitality Stadium when the season ends. Marco Silva from Fulham, who’s out of contract soon as well, has made Chelsea’s shortlist too, and free agent Xabi Alonso is also in the mix. A few more unnamed names are being considered as well.
No one knows exactly who’ll be standing in the Stamford Bridge dugout next season. But Iraola’s in with a real shot. If he does get the job, that could be good news for Nicolas Jackson, who’s set to return from his loan soon.
Jackson went to Bayern Munich on loan last summer. The deal said Bayern had to buy him for £56.2 million (plus a £14.3 million loan fee), but only if he played a set number of games, roughly 40, give or take. So far, Jackson’s made 29 appearances this season. Last week, Bayern’s Max Eberl confirmed they won’t be buying him permanently.
Apparently, it was clear from early on that Jackson wouldn’t stay in Munich, and people close to him said back in February that he was planning to weigh up his options this summer. He hasn’t ruled out coming back to Stamford Bridge.
If Iraola is Chelsea's head coach when Jackson returns, things might get interesting. Iraola’s made it clear he rates Jackson highly. Back when Iraola was managing Mirandes in Spain, Jackson was on loan there from Villarreal. Their paths never crossed directly, but Iraola kept an eye on him.
In fact, Bournemouth tried to sign Jackson in January 2023, six months before Iraola even joined the club. Jackson didn’t pass the medical, though, and ended up at Chelsea instead.
Talking to the Bournemouth Echo last summer, Iraola said, “I know him really well, because he played at Mirandés and I faced him with Villarreal. He’s a very, very good player. He’s quick; he threatens with his pace, and he can also turn, beat his man, and create chances. He’ll work well with the other strikers.”
Asked about Jackson at Mirandes, Iraola added, “I didn’t coach him, but he went there young and played in the second division.”
If Jackson does stay at Chelsea next season, he won’t have an open run at the no. 9 spot. Joao Pedro has scored 19 goals in his debut season, and it’s tough to see anyone displacing him right now.
Then there’s Liam Delap, who’s had a tough first year – just two goals after a £30m move from Ipswich Town. Some reports say he wants to stay and fight for his place, but it’s only going to get harder with Emanuel Emegha arriving this summer.
Emegha is currently at Strasbourg and will join Chelsea at the end of the season. That said, it’s still up in the air whether he’ll actually play in London next year or head out on loan somewhere else.