High-flying Newcastle United still have an interest in Manchester United midfielder Scott McTominay, but the Red Devils are preparing to keep hold of their homegrown midfielder.
According to Daily Mail journalist Craig Hope, Newcastle United continues to admire Manchester United central midfielder Scott McTominay.
McTominay has made over 180 appearances for Manchester United after rising through the ranks and is among Man United’s longest-serving players. The Scotland international was a regular starter under new boss Erik Ten Hag at the start of the season. He managed to keep Casemiro on the bench due to his fine form.
However, McTominay has struggled for regular starts in recent weeks after losing his spot to Casemiro, a £70 million summer acquisition from Real Madrid. The 26-year-old has missed United’s last two games due to sickness, has not started a league match since the Manchester derby in October, and is attracting interest from rival teams.
Reports had previously suggested that there are several Premier League suitors who are keeping a close eye on the midfielder’s situation at Old Trafford.
However, a new claim has revealed McTominay has admirers at Newcastle, but a January move is unlikely as United have made their stance clear that their academy graduate is not for sale, as Ten Hag continues to emphasize squad depth ahead of the rest of the season.
The midfielder is currently under contract at Old Trafford until the summer of 2025, with the option for another 12-month extension.
The Scotland international has been on the Magpies’ radar for a while now. Initial reports of the Magpies monitoring the 26-year-old emerged during last summer’s transfer window, but nothing came to fruition.
McTominay may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but there is no doubt that the midfielder is a Premier League-quality player. The Scotsman would do a solid job in the midfield of another Premier League outfit, but that team should be further down the table and not competing for a place in the Champions League like Newcastle are.
The Athletic has recently reported the Magpies are looking for a holding midfielder able to increase competition in Howe’s engine room and allow Bruno Guimaraes to play further forward.
McTominay doesn’t fit the profile, since he’s more of a box-to-box midfielder, and he is no better than any of the Toon midfielders at Howe’s disposal, who are all blade runners. The Magpies can definitely attract an exceptional-standard midfielder now that they have the money in the bank and are competing for top spots.
Nevertheless, Manchester United are unlikely to entertain any winter offers for McTominay, who still features heavily in Erik ten Hag’s plans. Ten Hag wants at least four central midfielders on the roster, as United are currently short in that area of the pitch following Donny van de Beek’s injury.
