Manchester United have two midfielders competing for one place in 2024/25 squad
In an ideal world, Manchester United would have probably brought Sofyan Amrabat in and sold Scott McTominay this summer, but circumstances never quite aligned to make the transaction as smooth as that.
When United's interest in Amrabat became clear towards the end of June and start of July, at a point when they had already signed Mason Mount for £55million, it was stressed any further additions in midfield would only be likely if there were departures.
At that stage, McTominay's future was up in the air, as was that of Donny van de Beek. United were leaning towards keeping McTominay, but he was one of few sellable assets and as an academy graduate, a sale would be beneficial in Financial Fair Play terms.
But a pre-season tour injury to promising youngster Kobbie Mainoo pushed United further down the road of keeping McTominay, while interest in the Scot never materialised as strongly as might have been expected. David Moyes and Thomas Tuchel are admirers, but neither West Ham nor Bayern Munich pushed for a transfer.
United waiting on Turkish clubs for Van de Beek transfer
Not only did McTominay end up staying, but so did Van de Beek. The 26-year-old could yet move to Turkey over the next week, but it isn't seen as being guaranteed despite the fact he was left out of United's 25-man Champions League squad and could suffer a similar fate when the Premier League squad is confirmed on Wednesday.
That Erik ten Hag still pushed for the signing of Amrabat shows how keen he was to be reunited with the Morrocan, who played 50 times under him at FC Utrecht between 2015 and 2017. Amrabat called him "one of the most important people in my career for now" upon arrival at Old Trafford.
United's desperate attempts to stick within
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