Newcastle will look to sign Scott McTominay from Manchester United in the summer as Eddie Howe believes the midfielder can ‘succeed in his system’… and Howe also wishes to make James Maddison one of the ‘five or six players’ in the mega recruiting of Magpies. drive
- Howe believes McTominay’s experience and skills make him a valuable prospect.
- Newcastle will look to increase the depth of the team to prepare to play in Europe
- Maddison and Mason Mount are among his attack targets this summer
Newcastle will be looking to bring Scott McTominay into the fold this summer after manager Eddie Howe identified the Scotland international as capable of slotting directly into his Magpies side.
McTominay has failed to fully establish himself in Erik ten Hag’s Manchester United side and has been used more frequently as a substitute.
Competition in midfield from Casemiro, Christian Eriksen and Fred has seen McTominay spend less and less time in Ten Hag’s preferred starting XI.
While United have previously been adamant in refusing to let the midfielder go, according to The TelegraphNewcastle believe United could back down as Ten Hag looks to fund his own recruitment campaign during the window.
Head scouting Steve Nickson and director of football Dan Ashworth are understood to agree with Howe on the 26-year-old’s value and that the club have been tracking him for a year.
Scott McTominay has had playing time issues when preferred midfielders are fit at United
Eddie Howe (center) has long been interested in McTominay as a vital piece of his puzzle.
The Magpies’ interest in McTominay was previously reported in January, but at the time United were adamant about keeping the midfielder.
Howe is set to use McTominay as a deep midfielder as a late replacement for Jonjo Shelvey, who was allowed to sign for Nottingham Forest in the January window.
Shelvey quickly shed his allegiance to the North East club, recently calling his former teammates ‘whingebags’ following Forest’s 1-2 home loss against the Magpies.
By placing McTominay in front of a back four, Howe would be more comfortable releasing Bruno Guimaraes to serve as a well-supported midfielder.
McTominay would not only work on the system, but could add a pinch of experience needed in a Newcastle team with its eyes firmly set on European competition.
Howe, who is focused on signing players he knows well and is therefore biased towards those with experience in British football, has already shown interest in signing McTominay’s compatriot, Arsenal left-back Kieran Tierney.
But Newcastle cannot seriously start planning their future purchases until the end of the season, as the finances available will depend on where in Europe they will compete in this season.
Currently sitting fifth in the Premier League, Newcastle have two games to go over fourth-place rival Tottenham, whose potential capitulation may come at the right time for the Magpies to topple the north London club in the Champions League. the next season.
James Maddison (left) is one of the bright sparks in a dismal season for Leicester, but the promise of silverware could attract a move elsewhere.
Regardless, Howe plans to add ‘five or six’ players for greater squad depth, with Chelsea’s Mason Mount and Leicester’s James Maddison as heavily favored options in attacking midfield.
Maddison is believed to be interested in winning trophies next season, something that may seem a long way off for his current club supporters.
Leicester are currently in a very tight bottom of the table relegation battle, hovering above the bottom three by a solitary point.
However, one hurdle that could prevent Maddison from traveling north is the prospect of higher wages than Newcastle would be interested in offering.