In a move that could send ripples through the transfer market, Everton appear poised to shatter their transfer record with a staggering £62 million bid for former Manchester United stalwart Scott McTominay, currently of Serie A’s Napoli.
McTominay parted ways with Old Trafford in the summer of 2024, transferring to Napoli for approximately £25 million as then-manager Erik ten Hag sought to overhaul his squad. However, the restructuring proved short-lived for Ten Hag, who faced the axe months later, paving the way for Ruben Amorim’s arrival. Meanwhile, McTominay was enjoying the limelight in Italy under the stewardship of Antonio Conte, playing a pivotal role in securing the Scudetto with 12 goals and four assists from 34 appearances.
This term, however, McTominay hasn’t quite hit the dizzying heights of his debut Serie A campaign, managing just two goals and one assist in ten matches. Napoli’s recent dip in form has seen them tumble to fourth in the league standings.
Yet, despite mixed fortunes this season, Spanish outlet Fichajes – known for their sporadic accuracy on transfer matters – claims Everton are keen to splash out a club-record €70 million to bring the Scottish international back to the Premier League.
The report underscores McTominay’s importance at Goodison Park, drawing parallels with the imposing figure of Marouane Fellaini from yesteryears. David Moyes, no stranger to leveraging powerful midfielders, reportedly holds McTominay’s ability to burst into the box in high regard, envisioning him as a catalyst in Everton’s forward transitions, destabilising defensive lines.
A substantial investment in McTominay is seen as a statement of ambition from the Toffees, with the club convinced that the midfielder could be transformative for their centre of the park, particularly if James Garner’s position becomes uncertain.
Naples journalist Vincenzo Credendino previously outlined to the BBC how McTominay has thrived under Conte’s tactical adjustments, likening the Scotsman to a ‘raider’ in Conte’s setup, which perfectly complements a target man like Romelu Lukaku.
Credendino further elaborated on Conte’s history of utilising dynamic midfielders, drawing comparisons to Juventus icons Claudio Marchisio and Arturo Vidal’s goal-scoring feats during Conte’s tenure in Turin, underscoring McTominay’s suitability to Conte’s preferred style of play.
Reflecting on his choice to venture to Napoli, McTominay shared with BBC Scotland his admiration for the passionate supporters and the compelling project at the club: “I saw the passionate fans, I saw the coach, I saw the players and I saw an opportunity. I took it, I didn’t look back.”
As the speculation mounts and the transfer window edges ever closer, all eyes will be on whether Everton can pull off what would be a groundbreaking acquisition and herald a new chapter for the Scottish international.