Scott McTominay: The Future of Everton’s Midfield?
Scott McTominay, the Manchester United and Scotland midfielder, is currently the subject of transfer speculation, with Everton emerging as the favourites to sign him. According to talkSPORT BET, the Toffees are priced at 6/4 to secure the services of the 26-year-old, with Newcastle and West Ham also interested in him.
McTominay joined Manchester United’s academy at the age of five and has been with the club ever since. He has progressed through the youth teams and has gone on to make over 200 first-team appearances for the Red Devils, winning his first piece of silverware with them by lifting last season’s Carabao Cup. However, he started only 10 Premier League matches last season following the signings of Casemiro and Christian Eriksen, and will likely find minutes hard to come by at Old Trafford again next season.
With Scotland in a strong position to qualify for just their second major tournament this century, McTominay may decide he wants as many Premier League minutes as possible in preparation for next summer’s Euros, which may involve leaving his boyhood club. Everton have been linked as the most likely destination for the Lancashire-born player, with Sean Dyche taking a liking to the midfielder.
The Toffees secured their place in the Premier League for next season after a dramatic win on the final day of the season to seal their survival at the expense of 2016 champions Leicester. The Merseyside club have already announced the departure of academy graduate midfielder Tom Davies this summer and will be wary of the contracts of fellow midfield trio Abdoulaye Doucoure, Idrissa Gueye, and Alex Iwobi, which all expire in 12 months’ time.
McTominay can bring Champions League experience and an improvement in the strength and depth of the current Toffees side, which Dyche will see as a huge benefit to his team. However, Newcastle have also been linked with a move for the midfielder, and are currently priced at 3/1 to sign the Scotland international. The Magpies would be able to offer McTominay Champions League football next season, should he make the move, which is something that Everton doesn’t have the luxury of doing.
Eddie Howe’s side exceeded many expectations last season as they reached the final of the Carabao Cup and finished fourth in the Premier League, their highest finish since 2003. The squad is likely to have a busy summer in terms of new signings, with Howe needing to increase the strength and depth of his squad to accommodate the increased workload that European football brings, along with competing at the top end of the Premier League again.
West Ham have also been linked with a move to sign McTominay, with the East London club priced at 6/1 to take the midfielder off Manchester United’s hands. It’s looking likely that the Hammers will be losing their club captain and star player in the shape of Declan Rice this summer, and David Moyes and his staff will have a long list of potential replacements for the England international. McTominay could well be a name on that list, with the Scotland international having been linked with a move to the London Stadium over the last few transfer windows.
There are also rumours linking McTominay with a move abroad, with potential transfers to France, Germany, Italy, and Spain all priced at 12/1. Leicester, despite playing Championship football next season, have been priced at 14/1 to sign the Scot this summer, with Crystal Palace slightly further behind at 16/1. Nottingham Forest, meanwhile, are a long shot at 25/1 to sign the Manchester United man.
Conclusion
Scott McTominay is a talented midfielder who has been with Manchester United since he was five years old. However, he may need to leave his boyhood club to get more playing time and prepare for next summer’s Euros with Scotland. Everton, Newcastle, and West Ham are all interested in him, with Everton emerging as the favourites to sign him. The Toffees can benefit from McTominay’s Champions League experience and improve their midfield’s strength and depth. However, Newcastle can offer McTominay Champions League football next season, which is something that Everton doesn’t have the luxury of doing. West Ham is also a potential destination for the Scotland international, with the Hammers needing to replace Declan Rice, who is likely to leave this summer. There are also rumours linking McTominay with a move abroad, with potential transfers to France, Germany, Italy, and Spain all priced at 12/1. Leicester and Crystal Palace are also interested in the midfielder, but Nottingham Forest is a long shot at 25/1 to sign him.