It has been a difficult market for many Premier League clubs. Not just Manchester United.
While the arrivals of Leny Yoro, Joshua Zirkzee, Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui feel all the more impressive when you consider just how tight the Red Devils’ finances have been, Everton also defied their monetary concerns to make a couple of eye-catching additions of their own.
Sean Dyche’s side brought in towering defender Jake O’Brien from Lyon for around £17 million.
Former Sheffield United talisman Iliman Ndiaye returns to England from Marseille, meanwhile, for a similar fee.
But do Everton have anything left in the budget to pursue a move for Manchester United’s Scott McTominay?
- READ MORE: Manchester United confirmed signings, transfers in, out, loan exits, releases for 2024/25
Manchester United ace Scott McTominay linked with Everton
According to The Athletic, The Toffees are one of a number of clubs who have made enquiries about the Scotland international.
Among them are AFC Bournemouth and 2023 Italian champions Napoli.
But while Bournemouth have money in the bank – they sold Dominic Solanke to Tottenham Hotspur for £65 million last week – Dyche feels all that remains in Everton’s pockets is a few strands of lint and a bit of loose change.
Certainly not the £30 million required to take McTominay away from Old Trafford.
“I think it’s unlikely,” Dyche said on Everton’s official YouTube channel when asked about the prospect of further new faces arriving at Goodison Park this month. “I’m aware of the financial situation so I think it’s unlikely.
“But you never know. Sometimes things change quickly. So we will have to wait and see.”
Dyche’s comments are in stark contrast to those made by Fulham boss Marco Silva.
Ahead of Friday’s Premier League opener away to Man United, Silva admitted that The Cottagers are still in the market for a central midfielder.
Fulham have seen two bids rejected for McTominay, including one worth £23 million, and despite claims to the contrary, they remain interested, per The Athletic.
McTominay would not be a like-for-like Joao Palhinha replacement, one of the box-to-box, number eight roles in Fulham’s three-man midfield set up – with Sasa Lukic sitting a little deeper – appears to suit him down to the ground.
Fulham still in race for Old Trafford man
“We are going to sign a player (in midfield),” Silva says, via Beanyman Sports on YouTube. “We are pleased that we have Sasa Lukic and Harrison Reed who can play in that position.
“But yes, we are going to sign a player in that position.”
Marco Silva also warned his Fulham players to be on red alert whenever Bruno Fernandes picks up possession in the 2024/25 curtain-raiser. If his Community Shield performance is anything to go by, Man United’s talismanic captain is ready to explode out of the blocks.
Fernandes will be keen to mark his new contract with a goal and a win on opening night.
Man United could also hand out a host of debuts when Fulham come to town. Ten Hag has confirmed that former Bayern Munich duo Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui will be in the squad.
McTominay is likely to be involved too, albeit maybe off the bench.
As Fabrizio Romano explains, Man United may have to sell the academy graduate if they are to lure top midfield target Manuel Ugarte to England with Paris Saint-Germain seemingly reluctant to budge on their £50 million valuation.
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