There’s every chance that Everton won’t make a new signing in January – but something the club are about to do is even better.
Fans are calling on The Friedkin Group to splash some cash, following the brilliant win over Aston Villa at the weekend.
However, it has been reported that Everton won’t be tempted to spend big in the last days of the window. The club will proceed with caution, and only do deals for the right players. Loans are said to be more likely, so that there will be greater PSR headroom this summer.
Will Garner’s new contract be the signing of the window? 🤩
It was a slightly disappointing claim, but perhaps not all that surprising.
We may yet see a new signing or two, but Everton are said to still think there isn’t much value to be had this month in terms of transfers.
But there is one player announcement that could be on the way that could be more important than any signing Everton make in the transfer window.
James Garner’s new contract is simply huge for Everton
This season, James Garner has gone from strength to strength.
He has played in several different positions, but has pretty much always shown a high level and recently he’s really shone.
In the absence of Idrissa Gana Gueye and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall he’s stepped up – and fans from rival clubs have started to take note.
Garner’s performance against Villa at the weekend was nothing short of superb. As per Sofascore data, he made 15 defensive contributions, which was more than any player in the game. He also made seven tackles.
After the game, Ashley Young hailed Garner for the way he’s stepped up recently.
And Alan Shearer named Garner in his Team of the Week, this after also praising him on The Rest Is Football.
It was reported by The Bobble on Wednesday that Garner has reached an agreement to sign a new contract at Everton, so official confirmation of this will arrive soon from the club.
And frankly this is a huge boost for Everton given the way Garner is developing.
There has been risk of him leaving on a free at the end of the season. Or potentially even this month, with AC Milan having been sniffing around.
It would have been disastrous to lose a player of his quality, which arguably makes him more important than any signing of a new player this month.
A statement of intent by Everton
For Everton to get Garner tied down is great work by everyone involved.
The Englishman has reached new levels this season, and he looks to be someone who still has plenty of room to develop.
Garner is a great playmaker, but also tenacious. And not only that, he is very versatile, as we have seen.
To have lost someone with these qualities would have been a major blow, and The Friedkin Group and those that have worked on this deserve a lot of credit.
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