Everton’s January transfer window is just seven weeks away, and the transfer mill is already ticking over – with one deal potentially frustrating former boss Frank Lampard.
Everton boss Frank Lampard only lasted a year in the role, keeping Everton in the Premier League in the 2021-22 season with a famous 3-2 win over Crystal Palace at Goodison Park on the penultimate day of the season.
Whilst he may not have had the 2022-23 campaign that he would’ve liked, Lampard did offer first-team minutes to the likes of Isaac Price, Ellis Simms, Tyler Onyango, Lewis Dobbin and Jarrad Branthwaite with a view to the future.
But it will be his key involvement of James Garner and Anthony Gordon that will frustrate Lampard, with Garner now being linked with a move to join Gordon at Newcastle United.
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James Garner’s links to Newcastle will leave Frank Lampard wondering what could’ve been
A report on Wednesday morning by journalist Pete O’Rourke stated that Newcastle are interested in James Garner to bolster their midfield ranks.
The Magpies have reportedly sent scouts to watch the Manchester United academy graduate on ‘several’ occasions this season, as they angle a move to further bolster their midfield.
Newcastle already have starting trio Bruno Guimaraes, Sandro Tonali and Joelinton in their ranks, as well as Lewis Miley, Joe Willock and Jacob Ramsey.
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However, Garner has been proficient at both right-back and central midfield this season, further being tipped for an England call-up by David Moyes after some impressive displays.
That versatility, alongside a homegrown quota, means that the former Nottingham Forest star is on Eddie Howe’s radar – and it’s no surprise, given he has lured young English talent such as Tino Livramento, Lewis Hall and Ramsey among others to the club.
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Lampard will be annoyed that Garner and Gordon could link up on the national team stage
Garner and Gordon were once named as two of the best youngsters in European football and seeing them in the same Newcastle team will be frustrating to him.
The duo spent half of the 2022-23 campaign together, and although they only played five times together before Gordon’s move to Newcastle and Lampard’s eventual sacking, his intuition in playing them together was proven correct.
They never played a full ninety minutes in the same side, but with Gordon now an established England international and Garner having blossomed into a key player under David Moyes, it’s a key sign that he was onto something strong.
Garner and Gordon have also played well together for England’s under-21 side, and with the possibility of playing them together in the Champions League, it gives him kudos in prolonging Everton’s future, especially with Lampard stating that he ‘loved’ managing Gordon.