Sunderland have been credited with interest in signing young Manchester United midfielder James Garner on loan in January.
The Sun claim Sunderland and Championship sides Preston and Wigan are interested in signing the 18-year-old who Red Devils boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer dubbed 'the next Michael Carrick'.
Phil Parkinson will no doubt already have one eye on the January transfer window as he gets to know his Black Cats squad better. There will be room for the new Sunderland manager to do some business in the window should he see fit.
And Garner, who made his first team debut for Manchester United back in February, would undoubtedly add class to the Wearsiders' midfield, albeit, potentially at the expense of one of their own talented academy graduates.
While Garner is good, United would have no interest in selling him permanently, while Ethan Robson is currently excelling while on loan at Grimsby Town. There's potential to extend that loan beyond January, but with the youngster doing so well, there have been calls for him to return to the club.
By January the academy graduate will have just six months left on his Sunderland contract and went on loan in search of first team football, and to prove his fitness after a number of injuries. Incidentally, he missed Grimsby's last two games through injury, but Michael Jolley is hopeful he'll be back in action soon.
Whether Parkinson does bring Robson back in January remains to be seen, with Garner links interesting.
Championship interest would likely be looked at more favourably by United chiefs, particularly with Preston and Wigan both closer to his home in Manchester too. But if Parkinson's interest is genuine, he could perhaps ask his assistant Steve Parkin to put in a word with Sir Alex Ferguson who he is friendly with.
Garner is certainly highly rated at Old Trafford. As well as Solskjaer's flattering comparison, former midfielder Darren Fletcher told the Daily Mail of him in September: "I'm sure as the season goes on you're going to see more of James Garner because he's top class.
“I’m surprised he's not featured so far but by the end of the season I'm sure that people will know who he is without a doubt, if you don't by now.”
