---
title: "Leeds: Phil Hay shares James Garner enquiry"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/leeds-phil-hay-transfer-update-james-garner/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Charlie Smith"
section: "Leeds United News"
published: "2022-06-01T11:40:36Z"
modified: "2022-06-01T11:40:36Z"
---

# Leeds: Phil Hay shares James Garner enquiry

**[Leeds United](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/leeds-united-news/) have already made an enquiry for Nottingham Forest loanee James Garner, according to [Phil Hay](https://theathletic.com/3340078/2022/05/31/leeds-transfer-news-kristensen/?source=ukdailyemail&campaign=711528).**

### The Lowdown: Garner excels at Forest

Garner, who was labelled [‘superb’](https://www.unitedinfocus.com/news/james-garner-praised-after-superb-midfield-performance-on-loan/) by Midlands journalists earlier this year, is under contract at Manchester United until [2024](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/james-garner/profil/spieler/505219), but he starred on loan at the City Ground during the 2021/22 campaign.

The 21-year-old was a regular in the Championship, playing in [three](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/james-garner/leistungsdaten/spieler/505219) different midfield roles and contributing to [14](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/james-garner/leistungsdaten/spieler/505219) goals, which saw his [Transfermarkt](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/james-garner/marktwertverlauf/spieler/505219) valuation rocket from £3.6m to £6.3m.

Garner has been heavily [praised](https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/manchester-united-ten-hag-garner-23958647) for his set pieces under Steve Cooper and he helped Forest back into the [Premier League](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/premier-league-news/) last weekend with a play-off final triumph over Huddersfield Town at Wembley.

### The Latest: Leeds enquiry for Garner

Hay shared a story for [The Athletic](https://theathletic.com/3340078/2022/05/31/leeds-transfer-news-kristensen/?source=ukdailyemail&campaign=711528) on Tuesday morning regarding Leeds’ transfer plans following a move for Brenden Aaronson.

The reliable reporter revealed that the club have their eyes on midfield targets and name-checked Garner as a possible signing, claiming that the Whites – and by association their director of football Victor Orta – made enquiries to Manchester United during the second half of the season.

[![Latest Leeds United updates!](https://cdn.footballtransfertavern.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/cropped-2022-03-10T184055Z_1834933207_UP1EI3A1FW561_RTRMADP_3_SOCCER-ENGLAND-LEE-AVA-REPORT-1-scaled-1.jpg)](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/latest-leeds-united-updates-4/)

### The Verdict: O’Brien a more realistic signing?

New Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag [plans](https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/james-garner-man-united-transfer-24097113) to watch Garner in action before making a call on the 21-year-old’s future.

Should Ten Hag green-light an exit for the midfielder, Leeds may well try their luck judging by Hay’s recent claim, although you’d expect that he may be more open to a permanent move to Forest following his impressive loan spell with the newly-promoted side.

\[freshpress-poll id=”392511″\]

Therefore, looking to sign Lewis O’Brien from Huddersfield instead could be a wiser and more realistic move, with [reports](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/leeds-united-news/leeds-whites-ready-to-trigger-lewis-obrien-release-clause/) at the weekend hinting that Leeds could trigger his £10m release clause.

***In other news: [Leeds and Orta now eyeing ‘unbelievable’ Adidas-sponsored Dutch midfielder after O’Brien](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/leeds-united-news/leeds-united-transfer-update-gustavo-hamer/)***