Scott McTominay could do Man Utd a favour thanks to clever transfer clause | Football | Sport

Manchester United could be set for a significant financial windfall due to a shrewd clause agreed as part of Scott McTominay’s transfer to Napoli. The Scottish midfielder, who had been with United since his childhood, made the move to the Italian giants in 2024 for a fee of £25.7million, ending his two-decade-long association with the Red Devils.

The decision to let McTominay go raised some eyebrows among the United faithful, given the club’s rich history of nurturing academy talent. However, the deal could turn out to be quite lucrative thanks to a sell-on clause included in the contract. Under the terms of the agreement, United are entitled to 10 per cent of any future sale of McTominay by Napoli. This could lead to a hefty payout as the 29-year-old continues to establish himself as one of Europe’s top midfielders, delivering standout performances for both his club and country and attracting the attention of some other top clubs across the continent.

In his debut season in Italy, McTominay was named player of the year following an exceptional campaign that saw him play a key role in helping Antonio Conte’s side clinch the Serie A title. The Napoli No.8 scored 13 goals in 36 appearances across all competitions, earning him a nomination for the prestigious Ballon d’Or award, which was ultimately won by Ousmane Dembele.

McTominay has also made his mark on the international scene with Scotland, a nation he’s eligible to play for through his father. In November, he netted an extraordinary overhead kick as Scotland triumphed over Denmark 4-2, securing the Tartan Army’s first World Cup berth since 1998.

Transfermarkt currently pegs McTominay’s value at around £40m, with two-and-a-half years remaining on his contract with Napoli. The Italian side are presently third in Serie A, trailing leaders Inter by a mere two points. A sale at that price would net United an additional £4m due to their sell-on clause.

However, this figure could potentially climb even higher, with Napoli reportedly willing to entertain offers in the region of £60m. There are even murmurs of a surprise return to Old Trafford. Some reports suggest that United are contemplating bringing McTominay back as manager Ruben Amorim looks to bolster his sparse midfield options.

The long-term futures of Kobbie Mainoo, Bruno Fernandes, Casemiro and Manuel Ugarte remain up in the air, while injuries to Mainoo and skipper Fernandes have left United short in midfield.

This shortage has led Amorim to play 18-year-old academy player Jack Fletcher for 45 minutes against Newcastle United on Boxing Day, and even utilise centre-back Lisandro Martinez in midfield during a match against Aston Villa. Other potential targets reportedly include Crystal Palace’s key man Adam Wharton, Nottingham Forest’s Elliot Anderson and former United player James Garner, who is currently at Everton.