Man Utd have reportedly struck an agreement on personal terms with a holding midfielder, and West Ham have opened talks with a Red Devils star he’ll force out, per reports.
Man Utd’s current top priority in the transfer market is signing a new starting striker. Atalanta’s Rasmus Hojlund is the player in their sights, with Fabrizio Romano stressing an official bid will be lodged at some stage this week.
The Telegraph reported Man Utd won’t go higher than £60m for the Denmark international. Atalanta value the 20-year-old higher than that, though the fact they’ve reached an agreement in priniciple to sign Hojlund’s direct replacement suggests a deal is there to be made.
Once business at the top end of the pitch is taken care of, a move for a new holding midfielder will take centre stage.
To that end, today’s Euro Paper Talk brought news from Italy that claimed personal terms have been agreed with Fiorentina’s Sofyan Amrabat.
If the Moroccan destroyer does wind up at Old Trafford, he’ll add to a stacked engine room that already contains the likes of Casemiro, Christian Eriksen and potentially Mason Mount if deployed in a deeper role.
Fabrizio Romano recently doubled down on the claim Fred will make way from Erik ten Hag’s midfield. However, so too could Scott McTominay.
West Ham open talks for McTominay; ‘very big offer’ required
According to Sky Sports, West Ham have held ‘initial talks’ over bringing the Scotland international to the capital.
The Hammers are on the hunt for two new midfielders and are flush with cash following Declan Rice’s £105m move to Arsenal.
West Ham have already seen a £45m bid for Fulham’s Joao Palhinha rejected. The latest news wasn’t positive either, with Chelsea knocking back a £40m offer for Conor Gallagher.
Now, McTominay is fast emerging in David Moyes’ sights, with Sky’s Pete Graves detailing their pursuit.
“We know that they need midfielders having sold their star midfielder Declan Rice to Arsenal,” said Graves on Sky Sports News.
“They like Scott McTominay. We’re told they’ve held initial talks with Man Utd over McTominay.
“The suggestion is there’s a gap between the valuations, between what West Ham are willing to pay and what Man Utd want as a fee.
“But we’re told McTominay is seen as a great player by Ten Hag and important member of the squad. So if they’re going to consider a sale it would need to be a big offer.”
Specifically how much Man Utd want and how much West Ham are prepared to pay wasn’t made clear by Sky.
But in the prime of his career aged 26 and clearly admired by Ten Hag, a deal will not come cheap.
West Ham are understood to be seeking two midfielders of different profiles this summer, with one a holding option and the other more box-to-box.
McTominay could fall into the first category, while Sky concluded Southampton’s James Ward-Prowse is an alternative to Gallagher for the more attacking role.
