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Opinion: Scott McTominay transfer to Mourinho’s Roma will not happen

By Abdullah Mamaniyat

HOUSTON, TEXAS - JULY 26: Scott McTominay #39 of Manchester United passes the ball in the second half against Real Madrid during the 2023 Soccer Champions Tour match at NRG Stadium on July 26, 2023 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)
HOUSTON, TEXAS - JULY 26: Scott McTominay #39 of Manchester United passes the ball in the second half against Real Madrid during the 2023 Soccer Champions Tour match at NRG Stadium on July 26, 2023 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images) /
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The transfer window is always usually filled with a domino effect of transfers between clubs around Europe. This one in Italy inadvertently concerns Manchester United too, following on from reports last week that AS Roma were interested in Scott McTominay.

The story materialised from two factors. The first is former Manchester United midfielder Nemanja Matic’s interest in leaving Roma for a twilight adventure. The second was Roma (and former United) manager José Mourinho’s admiration of a player in McTominay he once invented a made-up end of season ‘José Mourinho Player Of The Year’ award for in 2018.

According to journalist Fabrizio Romano, Matic’s move to French side Rennes is close to completion and would end a professional relationship with Mourinho that saw the Portuguese manager buy the player for in three separate clubs – Chelsea, United and Roma.

This would naturally fuel rumours of McTominay being signed as a Matic replacement, however reports in Italy are circling that a move for PSG’s Leandro Paredes is on the cards for a relatively moderate fee. This move would seal the door shut on a reunion between Mourinho and McTominay.

Whether or not an official enquiry has been sent out behind the scenes, the deterrence seems to be United’s valuation of McTominay, which is around the £40million mark – a fee I would not expect a side like Roma to spend so heavily on. The pool of clubs who could afford him is realistically restricted to the Premier League.

West Ham were interested but put off by that valuation after having a bid of around £30million rejected for the Scotsman a few days ago. The Hammers opted for James Ward-Prowse around that price instead, so unless David Moyes is highly intent on believing that McTominay could really elevate his side, the expectation would be that United will keep McTominay this season in a sparing role like last season.