United “dreaming” of bringing Ballon d’Or contender home, £60m would do the trick – report

The Africa Cup of Nations and rising injuries have meant Manchester United’s squad has been stretched way too thin. The Red Devils are without Amad and Bryan Mbeumo up top, Bruno Fernandes, Mason Mount, and Kobbie Mainoo in midfield, and Harry Maguire, Matthijs de Ligt, and Noussair Mazraoui at the back. While Ayden Heaven’s form has eased some of the pressure on the defensive front, Ruben Amorim could do with a midfielder capable of donning multiple hats. United did have someone like that not too long ago — Scott McTominay. However, INEOS and Erik ten Hag decided to cut him loose for pure profit and Napoli gladly scooped him up. Scott McTominay has exploded since Napoli switch In his final season at Old Trafford, the Carrington graduate chipped in with 10 goals and three assists, while playing all across the midfield and even up top on occasions. And he has taken his game to the next level since moving to Italy. In his debut season, the Scotland international netted 13 times, while registering six assists as Napoli secured the Serie A title in style. Not only that, but the 29-year-old won the Serie A MVP award, while being named 18th in the Ballon d’Or race. The Lancaster-born ace is refusing to slow down, scoring five times already this season while also grabbing three assists. And who can forget his heroics for his home country? United regret selling midfielder However, the defending Serie A champions are facing financial distress, and as per CaughtOffside, they are willing to listen to offers for the former United star. Around £60 million is what the Naples-based outfit are looking for, and while a summer move seems most likely at this stage, they could be forced to sell in January in case of an irresistible proposal. CompetitionAppearancesGoalsAssistsGoal Contributions Serie A4914822 Champions League6314 Coppa Italia3112 Supercoppa Italiana2000 Total60181028 McTominay stats since Napoli switch The 20-time English league champions “regret” selling their former star and are prepared to do anything to bring him back to the Theatre of Dreams. “Sources close to the agents industry have informed CaughtOffside that Man United are dreaming of bringing Scott McTominay back home. “Napoli’s preference is clear, they want to keep their star. However, the club must also consider financial balance and long-term planning. Scott McTominay would be a great signing “Napoli would only consider opening negotiations at around £60 million. While Napoli are strongly against losing him in January as they push for another Scudetto, insiders acknowledge that an extraordinary offer could force a rethink. “Man United are said to regret allowing their academy graduate to leave and they are considering bringing him back to Old Trafford.” The report also mentions that Tottenham Hotspur, Arsenal, and Newcastle are all chasing the Napoli No.8’s signature. Whether INEOS can pull this deal off remains to be seen. For years. Scott McTominay was misprofiled but Antonio Conte seems to have found the ideal way to utilise his strengths. And Amorim could do the same by playing him in an advanced position. With so many absentees, he could be a major trump card. As for next season, bringing him in could be vital to having a strong squad, especially if the club do return to Europe and plan to compete on all fronts. Feature image Francesco Pecoraro via Getty Images The Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social Ayantan Chowdhury After failing to become a professional footballer, Ayantan switched to the next best thing: writing about the greatest football club in the world. He has extensive sports journalism experience, having worked for over 10 years in the Indian sports media industry, writing for the biggest newspapers and websites. Currently an editor at The Peoples Person. You can follow him on X: @ayantanc_25