West Ham United’s dramatic 3-2 win over Burnley not only saw Nuno Espirito Santo’s side record successive Premier League wins, it also provided some welcome vindication for a much-maligned recruitment team.
It is fair to say the signings of Callum Wilson and Kyle Walker-Peters did not put goosebumps on arms or raise expectations.
A 33-year-old Wilson had missed 115 Newcastle games during an injury-hit half-decade at St James’ Park. Walker-Peters had just suffered a humiliating relegation with a Southampton side whose points tally West Ham United can overtake on Saturday with 26 games to spare.
But, while not even their biggest backers could say Wilson and Walker-Peters were signings borne out of ambition, not every addition needs to be a marquee, big-money arrival. What the experienced duo lack in terms of star quality, they could yet make up for in value.
Nuno Espirito Santo credited Callum Wilson with turning the game around against Burnley. His poaching instincts as sharp as ever as he snaffled a back-post tap-in. Walker-Peters would then seal the win with his first Hammers goal off the bench.
Two-footed and adaptable, the full-back has played as a right-back, a left-back and a wing-back since moving to East London. Against Burnley, he popped up in the penalty area to score after Tomas Soucek’s daisycutter had been spilled by Martin Dubravka.
So, as ExWHUEmployee reports that West Ham are interested in Everton’s James Garner, his detractors should perhaps remind themselves that some of the most supposedly ‘underwhelming’ signings can also prove to be the most inspired.
Everton’s James Garner could be the ultimate utility man at West Ham United
Whether Wilson or Walker-Peters are capable of producing the goods consistently enough at West Ham remains to be seen. The jury remains out on both, despite those Burnley heroics.
The reaction to those James Garner links, meanwhile, has been less than glowing.
Then again, most supporters will still be able to remember how the arrival of Craig Dawson was greeted back in 2020. Garner, another so-called ‘steady Eddie’ unlikely to feature highly any supporter’s list of dream signings, has the makings of the latest Premier League-proven addition who ends up delivering far more than initially expected.
Garner, after all, would be two, possibly three signings rolled into one. A very solid, reliable central midfielder, but also a tidy full-back capable of playing on either flank if required.
“He’s been fantastic since I came in. I didn’t realise probably how good he was,” Everton boss David Moyes said in November, perhaps mirroring the surprise he could deliver to a somewhat sceptical Hammers faithful at some point down the line.
“He’s been so good. He’s played great in midfield and he’s played full-back for me as well. I’ve said a couple of times recently he’s probably getting closer to getting talked about for England because of his performances.”
Tony Hibbert explains why Garner is such ‘an asset’
An England call-up appears unlikely. But that Moyes is not the only one to give Thomas Tuchel a nudge ahead of the 2026 World Cup speaks volumes, not only about the sort of versatility that comes in so handy in tournaments, but also about the level of performance he produces week after week.
“I think you can play [Garner] in any position, and he wouldn’t look out of place at all on that pitch,” former right-back Tony Hibbert told the official Everton website this week.
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“To be honest, I’m gobsmacked with him. He’s got everything, he seems a good lad around the Club, the lads like him and you can see what he wants for his teammates and how they want to play. I think he’s just a great asset to have for us.
“He worked well in that [right-back] role,” Hibbert added, Garner an excellent outlet during the 2-0 victory over Fulham this month. “It felt like it gave us a little bit more of an attacking output as well on the right because he was finding himself in positions that he would still find himself as a midfielder but then also covering right-back.
“And he doesn’t stop running, so it helps. It’s like he’s up and down. He’s got a brain to defend as well. What an asset to have on your team. Definitely a player that you’ll want in your side.”
Everton still have the option to prevent free-agent status
As Wilson and Walker-Peters strive to prove their doubters wrong, do not bet against James Garner doing the same should he become the latest free-agent acquisition at the London Stadium. This is not merely an affordable, unambitious option, but one of the most flexible, consistent operators in the Premier League potentially available for nothing.
Though it must be said that Everton do have the option to extend his expiring deal by a further twelve months. The way he is performing right now, all across the pitch, means the Toffees will surely take up that option.
“I feel like my best position is in midfield, but I am very versatile,” Garner tells FourFourTwo. “I’ve got good game understanding. That helps me play in pretty much any position I’m asked to.”
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