Report: Why Scott McTominay is unlikely to join Newcastle from Man United

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Newcastle United are reportedly interested in signing Scott McTominay, but it sounds like a move for the Manchester United midfielder is unlikely.

According to the Athletic, the Magpies have been following the 26-year-old’s situation at Old Trafford, with McTominay no longer a guaranteed starter under Erik ten Hag.

The arrival of Casemiro has unsurprisingly forced him out of the starting XI, and the Brazilian enforcer has proven to be a wonderful addition.

His performances have helped Manchester United into the top four, and they only sit below Newcastle due to goal difference.

Ten Hag’s side appear to be clicking into gear, and that is without McTominay in the side.

For a long time the Scotland international has been tentatively linked with a move to St James’ Park, and now he is in the conversation again with Eddie Howe searching for a midfielder after Jonjo Shelvey’s injury.

McTominay is reportedly on the club’s list of targets, but information from the Athletic suggests that a move to the North East this month would come as a surprise.

Price and age make Scott McTominay to Newcastle unlikely

According to the Athletic, McTominay is not high up on Newcastle’s list of midfield targets. That is because he is older than other options at 26, and is likely to be very expensive.

While 26 is not old at all, Newcastle are predominantly being linked with younger players. It is part of their transfer blueprint that saw the likes of Sven Botman, Bruno Guimaraes and Alexander Isak arrive.

And with money seemingly tight this month, an expensive Scott McTominay is hardly going to feature high on a list of targets.

All roads appear to lead towards McTominay, who has been called ‘brilliant‘ by Luke Shaw, not joining Newcastle this month. That probably won’t concern a lot of fans, as he would not be most people’s first choice when it comes to signing a midfielder.

The likes of Youri Tielemans and Moises Caicedo are much more exciting, even if those deals also pose problems.

Newcastle looked at McTominay in the summer, and they have looked at him again in January. But it is seemingly not going to lead to him wearing a black and white shirt any time soon.