Manchester United recalls young talent early after Championship loan failure! Gallagher signing blocked, may re-sign new Carrick

English media reports that Toby Collyer, Manchester United’s midfielder loaned to Championship club West Bromwich Albion this season, has been brought back earlier than planned. Nevertheless, he won’t remain in Ruben Amorim’s senior squad, with the club seeking a new loan destination that offers him more game opportunities.

The 21-year-old Collyer had already returned to Manchester United for treatment after suffering a calf injury in November against Birmingham, potentially causing an 8-week absence. This hasn’t affected West Brom much, as Collyer was considered a peripheral player. Statistics show he made 12 appearances, only starting 3 times, and never completed a full match.

Therefore, Manchester United has decided that once Collyer fully recovers, he will not return to West Bromwich Albion. The Red Devils are exploring various options and have not ruled out allowing him to go out on loan again in January, with several Championship clubs already expressing interest.

Unless something unexpected happens, Amorim is unlikely to consider using Collyer in Manchester United’s first team. He recently cited Collyer’s inability to secure playing time in the Championship as evidence of the academy players’ lack of quality. Collyer was highly regarded during Ten Hag’s tenure but ultimately showed limited impact, with his main strength being stamina.

Manchester United will have to pay €30 million to acquire Atlético Madrid’s Conor Gallagher, as Diego Simeone’s team insists on a permanent sale rather than a loan, consistent with the situation at the end of the summer transfer window. Now, United hopes to wait until later in the winter window to see if Atlético might reconsider.

Bringing in Elliott Anderson, Adam Wharton, and Carlos Baleba in January is impossible; Gallagher and Wolverhampton Wanderers’ Ruben Neves from the Saudi Professional League’s Al Hilal are Manchester United’s two realistic targets. However, Atlético’s €30 million asking price and Al Hilal’s €20 million valuation could affect United’s summer transfer budget.

Now, another target has emerged: Manchester United is considering re-signing James Garner, the English midfielder sold to Everton three years ago. The Daily Mail reports that the Red Devils might take action as early as January. Since joining Everton for £9 million, the 24-year-old has established himself as a regular starter, though his contract expires at the end of this season.

Garner joined Manchester United’s academy at age 8 in August 2009 and made his debut in 2018, earning the nickname “the new Carrick,” but only appeared 7 times for the senior team. Since transferring to Everton in 2022, he has played 103 matches and scored 3 goals. Last month, he played the full 90 minutes at Old Trafford, helping Everton, despite being a man down, to a 1-0 victory over his former club.

However, transfer rumors about Garner returning to Manchester United may also be a tactic by his agent to raise his value, as Everton seeks to renew his contract and hopes to reach an agreement before January. At Goodison Park, Garner currently earns a weekly wage of just £40,000.

Recently, questions arose about Garner’s future. Although Everton is working hard to sign a new deal with him, he has not indicated that an agreement is near. “I haven’t really given it much thought,” Garner said. “I just focus on doing my job each week. You can’t plan too far ahead, so every day I try to improve my skills and contribute as much as possible to the team. Since I first joined the club, we’ve made great progress, so we are definitely moving in the right direction.”

Manager David Moyes has clearly expressed how much he values Garner and wants to keep him at the club. “Listen, I’m not going to let Garner go, and I believe the club will do everything possible to keep him,” Moyes said. “His situation reflects some changes and positive trends, as few clubs used to show interest in Everton players, but now they seem to be paying attention, which is a good sign. Hopefully, he will sign a new contract, although he has the option to extend for another year at the end of the season. But if possible, we will definitely try to secure his renewal.”

Premier League clubs like Aston Villa and Newcastle United are also believed to be interested in signing Garner. This season, under David Moyes, Garner has been very versatile, playing not only as a defensive midfielder but also as a right-back and left-back.