Sunderland have targeted several midfielders this month but their search has now taken on a new name, Manchester United’s James Garner, according to The Sunday People via the Daily Star.
What’s the latest?
The Black Cats seem to be frugal in their spending in the January window and it is little surprise that they are hoping to sign Garner on loan until the end of the season.
They have targeted other midfielders like Greg Docherty and Will Vaulks in a similar capacity but it could be the 18-year-old Garner who arrives.
The Red Devils are believed to be interested in allowing him to leave on a temporary basis after featuring a few times in the Europa League and once in the Premer League this season, and the north-east outfit are the frontrunners for his signature.
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Useful addition
It is always a bit of a risk to bring in a young player with limited experience at senior level, but the midfielder has shown glimpses of his quality despite his youth.
Although he functions primarily as a defensive midfielder, he has seven goals from 10 games for Manchester United U23s this term, and that means he could provide the perfect balance to Sunderland’s midfield.
Parkinson has had his eye on other goalscoring midfielders, such as the duo mentioned above, but he may prefer Garner as his 5-2-3 formation depends on his midfield pairing providing cover for the defence while also getting attacks started.
While current starters George Dobson and Max Power offer that defensive solidity with 2.6 and one tackles per league game, neither get into the penalty area enough, and that was demonstrated against Doncaster on Friday, with a lack of bodies in the box to get on the end of crosses.
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It was little surprise that the home side failed to find a breakthrough, therefore, but a more willing runner like Garner could solve that problem, and give the Black Cats another much-needed threat.
In other news, Parkinson was full of praise for one aspect of his team’s performance against Doncaster.
