Newcastle suffer setback in race for ‘brilliant’ £45m Howe target

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Newcastle United have been handed a blow in their pursuit of Scott McTominay’s signature.

According to The Express, Manchester United are now no longer likely to strike a £45 million deal with Newcastle over the services of Scott McTominay this summer. 

Eddie Howe is keen to bring the combative midfielder to St James’ Park, but a pre-season injury to Kobbie Mainoo looks to have prompted Erik Ten Hag to reconsider letting McTominay go.

Whether or not Newcastle will push and test the Red Devils’ resolve further on this remains to be seen. The recent acquisition of Sandro Tonali certainly makes the signing of McTominay less pressing for the Tyneside outfit. However, Howe has stated that he still wants to bring in a couple more new faces this summer.

The Magpies could afford to push the boat out financially to force a deal for the 26-year-old if they really wanted to, and felt they could do so without contravening FFP regulations.

Howe has already spoken out about the importance of the club being fiscally responsible in the transfer market. It remains to be seen how much McTominay is worth to his ongoing project.

Should Newcastle push for McTominay?

McTominay’s qualities are often under-appreciated. He isn’t showy, but he is tenacious, and a natural battler in the middle of the park. His work in the Newcastle engine room would allow the likes of Tonali and Bruno Guimaraes to shine all the brighter around him.

He has certainly been appreciated by a number of Manchester United managers. He is a first team regular at Old Trafford, and has made over 200 appearances for the club. He was called “absolutely brilliant” by former boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, as quoted by the Manchester United official website.

However, Newcastle’s cash would likely be better spent elsewhere this summer. McTominay is a good player, but £45 million would be enough to bring in someone even better. Otherwise, it could be used to upgrade the defence, where reinforcements are certainly needed.

All in all, Ten Hag’s injury-enforced change of heart over McTominay may prove to be a blessing in disguise for Howe.