'A player they're tracking' - Reporter talks up Southampton links with 'excellent' midfield gem

Southampton are interested in signing Manchester United youngster James Garner this summer, according to journalist Tom Barclay.

The midfielder was loaned out to Nottingham Forest last summer, with United struggling to promise him regular playing time at Old Trafford.

Garner has excelled during his stay at the Championship club, chipping in with three goals and three assists and starting 25 league matches so far.

With his United future looking bleak, it could be that Southampton swoop this summer, with a fresh update suggesting as much.

Speaking to GiveMeSport, Barclay claimed that there was genuine interest from Southampton ahead of a potential transfer materialising. He revealed of Garner and the Saints:

“He’s a player they’re tracking. They like him and are seeing how his progress goes. He’s an under-21 international who seemed to find it hard at first when he went on loan to Forest, but now he is flourishing under Steve Cooper.

“I don’t know what Manchester United’s situation is with him and how they view him long-term, but he’s one of the players Southampton like.”

Garner is showing what a talented player he is for a promotion-chasing Championship team, having been described as ‘excellent’ by Forest manager Steve Cooper.

At 21, the Englishman has so much time to improve even further as a player, and he could be a brilliant signing by Saints, maturing under the management of Ralph Hasenhuttl.

The club have made a habit of blooding top young English talent in the past such as Theo Walcott, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and James Ward-Prowse, and it would be intriguing to see if Garner could enjoy similar success moving forward if he were to make the move to St Mary’s.

In other news, a close source has dropped a key