The four people at fault for James Garner no longer being a Manchester United player

James Garner left Manchester United in 2022 and he has gone on to establish himself as a Premier League regular.

After Kobbie Mainoo dropped out, James Garner was called into the England squad for the UEFA Nations League. He was unlucky not to be selected in the first place.

Garner has no regrets about leaving Manchester United. He has gone on to make 132 appearances for Everton and has represented England twice.

The midfielder is thankful for his time in United’s academy, but believes that leaving the club was in the best interests for his development.

So who is responsible for Garner no longer being a Manchester United player? Here is a look at four who played a part…

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer handed James Garner his Manchester United debut and all seven of his appearances for the club. But he refused to go ‘all-in’ on the talented midfielder.

Despite Garner’s impressive start in an away fixture against Partizan Belgrade in 2019, Solskjaer was reluctant to give the midfielder many minutes in the Premier League.

United sent him on loan to Watford and then Nottingham Forest rather than provide a first team pathway. By the time his Forest loan was completed, Solskjaer had been fired.

If Solskjaer had decided to fast-track Garner, there is a strong chance he would still be a Manchester United player.

Erik ten Hag

Erik ten Hag was appointed as United manager in 2022, after Garner had helped Forest to win promotion. It should have been the perfect moment to transition the young midfielder into a new-look midfield.

Garner and Ten Hag held a meeting in pre-season, where the academy talent was left unimpressed by the lack of promises over first team football. He felt that he quite clearly did not fit into the manager’s plans.

An injury at the start of pre-season prevented Ten Hag from having a proper look at him. Rather than go out on loan again, Garner’s mind was hardened towards seeking a permanent exit.

He said: “Nothing is promised in football but when they start signing three, four midfielders you kind of understand your place… I didn’t want to stagnate when I’d just had such a good season, I wanted to go out and prove to everyone and prove to myself that I can play at the top level.”

george.patten 4h He had the ability to be successful, but the management would’ve found a way to mess it up no doubt. Could always work his way back if he keeps it up 0 Reply Report

John Murtough/Richard Arnold

2022 was pre-Ineos and post-Woodward, which meant John Murtough and Richard Arnold were running football operations at Manchester United. They spent most of their summer trying and failing to sign Frenkie de Jong.

What if they had pushed Erik ten Hag to give chances to James Garner?

Even if they could not have avoided his sale, they should have negotiated a buy-back clause in Garner’s contract.

He was sold for £9 million rising to £15 million – but crucially there was no mechanism included to bring him back. Now if United wanted to re-sign him, Everton would be demanding a fee in excess of £50 million.