Southampton are ‘100% interested’ in £20m star at St. Mary’s

Southampton ‘100% are interested’ in signing Manchester United midfielder James Garner this summer, according to talkSPORT reporter Alex Crook.

The talented 21-year-old is reportedly surplus to requirements at Old Trafford and has been linked with several Premier League sides as a result with St Mary’s sounded out as a potential destination.

A recent report from the Manchester Evening News revealed that United have now decided to sell Garner after new manager Erik ten Hag could find no place for him in his first-team plans.

It’s claimed that a fee between £15 million and £20m would be enough to prise the England Under-21 international away from his boyhood club.

Garner isn’t thought to be short of potential suitors either, with the Saints and Tottenham Hotspur, who are competing in the Champions League this season, listed as potential suitors.

The technically gifted ace has two years remaining on his £17,000-per-week contract, and United may feel the current window is one of their last opportunities to receive a substantial fee for him.

Garner would be Southampton’s seventh signing of the summer, following in the footsteps of Gavin Bazunu, Sekou Mara, Romeo Lavia, Armel Bella-Kotchap, Joe Aribo and Mateusz Lis.

It’s been a difficult start to the new season for Ralph Hasenhuttl’s charges, who have picked up just one point from a possible six, conceding six goals in the process.

Crook has confirmed that the south coast club do have Garner on their radar, though, possibly providing their supporters with hope that better times are ahead.

In an interview with GiveMeSport, he said: “Southampton 100% are interested. Everton as well, I believe, have shown an interest.”

Garner has only made seven senior appearances for United