Manchester United continue to make moves in the transfer market with just five days left in the window, and they appear to have agreed a fee to sell a key first-team player.
Erik ten Hag is reportedly keen to further strengthen his squad before the end of the month, although United have already signed Leny Yoro, Joshua Zirkzee, Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui for a combined fee of around €164.5 million ($183.6 million).
The Red Devils have so far recouped around €66 million ($73.9 million) from player sales, including Mason Greenwood to Marseille and Aaron Wan-Bissaka to West Ham, but further outflows are needed to give them enough room to bring in more reinforcements while still complying with Premier League financial rules.
Such an agreement could now be in sight and help them achieve such a balance.
According to multiple reports in the UK on August 25, Manchester United and Napoli have agreed a €30 million ($33.6 million) fee for midfielder Scott McTominay. The Scotland international was a target of Fulham earlier in the transfer window, but the Cottagers failed to match Manchester United’s valuation.
McTominay, who turns 28 in December, has one year left on his contract at United (although there is an option to extend for a further 12 months), so the fee represents a bargain from the club’s point of view. The fact that he is a homegrown player also reflects more positively on the balance sheet, easing any potential financial worries.
For Napoli and their coach Antonio Conte, signing a player with McTominay’s experience for a relatively modest fee would also be seen as a positive as they attempt to challenge Inter Milan for the Serie A title this season.
A year ago, McTominay had looked set to leave Old Trafford but ended up staying and playing 43 times in all competitions. He scored 10 goals – the best single-season return of his career – and started the FA Cup final in a 2-1 win over Manchester City.
In total he played 255 times for United, his last appearance coming in the 2-1 defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion on 24 August.
