Man Utd transfer paves the way for Nottingham Forest deal

Nottingham Forest's chances of striking a deal to return James Garner to the City Ground have been handed a boost after Manchester United continued their own transfer business.

Garner, 21, has spent the last year and a half at the Reds and played a key part in helping the club secure promotion to the Premier League for the first time in 23 years. He made 69 appearances during his time in the East Midlands, scoring eight goals and registering 10 assists.

During the summer transfer window, Forest have been linked with securing the services of the midfielder for a third consecutive loan spell. United boss Erik ten Hag is yet to make a decision on his future, but the Birkenhead-born man was absent from the Red Devils' pre-season wins over Liverpool and Melbourne Victory.

Cooper and Forest have now received an additional boost in their attempts to lure Garner back to the club. Following their 4-1 victory over Melbourne on Friday, Man Utd confirmed the addition of Denmark international Christian Eriksen.

Eriksen joins the Old Trafford outfit after spending the second half of the 2021/22 season with Brentford, where he contributed to five goals in 11 appearances. The move adds more doubt to Garner's chances of featuring under ten Hag - who now has seven midfielders to choose from.

Garner's possible arrival would fill the position left for Cooper to fill following the addition of seven new players this summer. Wayne Hennessey is the most recent incoming from Burnley, with Dean Henderson, Omar Richards, Giulian Biancone, Moussa Niakhate and Neco Williams making up the Reds' defence.

Taiwo Awoniyi was the first signing of the summer, signing for a club-record fee of £17m from German side Union Berlin.