Everton are in 'discussions' with Manchester United for 21-year-old midfielder James Garner, according to reports.
The Athletic are reporting that Everton have taken the first steps to pursue a deal for the midfielder, who is said to also be on the radar of Leicester City, Southampton and Tottenham Hotspur.
United want £14m for Garner, who has spent the previous 18 months on loan with Nottingham Forest in the Championship and played a vital role in Steve Cooper's side ending their 23-year exile from England's top-flight as they sealed promotion to the Premier League with victory over Huddersfield at Wembley in May.
VERDICT: Amadou Onana learns 'uncomfortable' lesson as Anthony Gordon question lingers
YOUR SHOUT: Rate the Everton players after win over Fleetwood Town
It has been a difficult start to the season for Everton with injuries and a lack of movement in the transfer market limiting Frank Lampard's side to just one point from their opening three games, but it promises to be a busy final few days of the summer transfer window for the Blues as Anthony Gordon looks set to seal a £60m to Chelsea - which will enable the Merseyside club to add much-needed attacking support to their ranks.
Garner's proposed move to Goodison Park, if talks are to progress smoothly, would appear to depend on the future of Gordon who looks increasingly likely to leave his boyhood city in favour of a move to west London. It is believed that the 21-year-old starlet has already agreed on personal terms on a long-term contract with the Londoners as chairman Todd Boehly continues his mega-spending spree since he acquired the club earlier this year.
Dele Alli also looks set to leave Lampard short in midfield as the former Tottenham Hotspur prodigy edges closer to a switch to Turkish giants Besiktas in a bid to get his career back on track after a turbulent few years, with the Blues boss revealing his move was at an "advanced" stage as of Tuesday evening.
“He’s very advanced to moving to Besiktas. It’s not absolutely done yet but it’s very advanced," said Lampard following Tuesday's 1-0 win over Fleetwood in the League Cup second round.
Garner has made 81 league appearances over the last three campaigns during loan spells at Watford and Nottingham Forest in the Championship and has two years left on his current deal at Old Trafford.
READ NEXT
Everton player ratings as Demarai Gray lively and Nathan Patterson impressive at Fleetwood
Everton suffer another injury blow in warm-up ahead of Fleetwood Town match
- Frank Lampard has told his Everton bosses what everyone already knows
- New Everton striker question emerges as Frank Lampard decides against two possible options
