PL rival opens talks to sign Scott McTominay after United reach final decision on bombshell return – report

Scott McTominay is set to be targeted by two Premier League clubs as Manchester United’s plans have forced both to consider reinforcements in central midfield, according to an explosive report. Premier League Proven The Red Devils are targeting a revamp of their engine room this summer, with at least two new recruits expected to arrive at Old Trafford. The club’s primary targets are a selection of options within England’s top division, given the struggles previous signings have endured after joining from European sides. Nottingham Forest powerhouse Elliot Anderson is the first choice, though competition will be fierce for the 23-year-old England international. Manchester City are understood to be favourites to secure his signature. Brighton & Hove Albion dynamo Carlos Baleba is still high on United’s radar after INEOS made overtures to sign him last summer. Personal terms were agreed with the 22-year-old Cameroonian, but the Seagulls refused to enter negotiations and a deal never progressed beyond that point. Adam Wharton is the third name on United’s list, with the Crystal Palace maestro’s profile as a deep-lying playmaker drawing parallels with caretaker coach Michael Carrick. Interest in the 21-year-old will be equally high amongst England’s elite, including Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur. However, Newcastle United and Italy enforcer Sandro Tonali emerged as a shock alternative for United earlier this month, despite the Tyneside club’s reticence to lose the 25-year-old. All four midfielders are expected to cost in excess of £75 million, with some sources indicating the price could climb as high as £100 million. United will be hoping the prospect of Champions League football next season will prove decisive in luring them to Old Trafford – especially in the case of Tonali. Newcastle and Palace target McTominay McTominay is another option United have been linked with as a solution to their midfield woes, with Italian outlets reporting the prospect of a blockbuster return to his boyhood club. However, an update relayed by The Peoples Person today revealed INEOS have no intention of sanctioning a move for the academy graduate, despite his transformation into a Serie A-winning and Ballon d’Or-nominated talisman for Napoli. But this dramatic upturn in form in Italy has put him in the crosshairs of, in an ironic twist, Newcastle United and Crystal Palace – with both clubs set to need new midfielders this summer. Sports Boom reveals the Magpies have already “made an enquiry” in Naples. Meanwhile, the Eagles are understood to be “monitoring developments closely as they weigh up whether to step up their own move for the powerhouse midfielder,” given Wharton’s inevitable departure from Selhurst Park at the end of the season. One inside source contends “interest is building” in England and that it “wouldn’t take much for this to become a very competitive situation.” The report concludes that a “full-blown transfer scrap” could erupt for the Scotland international, whose potent pairing of physicality and goal-scoring prowess are tailor-made for the increasingly set-piece-heavy Premier League. Final Thoughts McTominay’s metamorphism into a box-crashing juggernaut in Naples has been a wonderful development for United fans to witness, as every Red Devil should want the club’s academy stars to thrive, regardless of the shirt they wear. It would be a grave mistake for him to return to Old Trafford, however, given the urgent needs in midfield do not align with his talents. As such, if McTominay’s switch to St James’s Park or Selhurst Park facilitated the injection of Tonali or Wharton into United’s midfield, that would be the best move the 29-year-old Scot could make this summer. Featured 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 Darragh Fox Darragh is an editor for The Peoples Person who spent three years learning about the Cold War at the University of Sheffield slowly realising football was by far the most interesting thing to write about. Amad’s first touch should be officially recognised as the eighth wonder of the world.