An “exceptional” former Manchester United player could make a surprise return to Old Trafford this summer, according to a report.
Man Utd pursuing midfielder amid Casemiro doubts
Casemiro’s future at Old Trafford appears to be in doubt, despite the Brazilian putting in some much-improved performances in recent times, making a remarkable 11 tackles against Manchester City earlier this month.
As such, Ruben Amorim may be tasked with bringing in a new tough-tackling midfielder this summer, and the manager’s search has led him to Atalanta midfielder Ederson, with Man United expected to make a £52m bid for the Brazilian.
Other potential options include Eintracht Frankfurt’s Hugo Larsson, Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton and Wolverhampton Wanderers’ Joao Gomes, with United certainly not short on options as we edge closer to the summer transfer window.
Manuel Ugarte joined the Red Devils last summer, following the decision to sell Scott McTominay to Napoli for £25m, and the Scot has really kicked on since arriving in the Serie A, establishing himself as a key player for the Serie A title chasers.
As such, according to a report from Spain, McTominay could now be in line for a surprise return to Old Trafford, although a deal will not be cheap, as his performances for Napoli have elevated his market value considerably.
It may also be difficult to prise the 28-year-old away from Napoli, with the Italian club determined to keep hold of him, and given that he is enjoying one of the best seasons of his career, the midfielder may not be overly keen on a return despite the interest from his former club.
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ByDominic LundApr 16, 2025 "Exceptional" McTominay shining in the Serie A
The Scotland international was much-maligned during his time with Man United, which ultimately led to the decision to cash-in last summer, but he has shown serious signs of development since moving to Napoli.
The Lancaster-born midfielder has picked up a very impressive eight goals and four assists in 28 Serie A appearances, most recently bagging a brace against Empoli to ensure his side remained just three points behind league leaders Inter Milan.
In light of the improvements the central midfielder has made to his game, he was lauded as “exceptional” by journalist Josh Bunting earlier this season, and he ranks highly on some key metrics for midfielders over the past year.
Statistic
Average per 90
Non-penalty goals
0.26 (97th percentile)
Successful take-ons
1.05 (85th percentile)
Aerials won
1.84 (90th percentile)
That said, it seems very unlikely that McTominay will be on his way back to Old Trafford anytime soon, given that he left less than a year ago, and appears to be flourishing with Napoli.