Utd were slammed for £30m transfer snub – they might be about to make even more

Needing to improve their success rate in the seller’s market, heads were turned when Manchester United rejected a £30million offer from West Ham United for Scott McTominay last summer.

United were not actively looking to sell the midfielder ahead of the 2023/24 campaign, but they were prepared to sanction an exit if a club came calling with an offer at the right price. For many, West Ham’s offer for the 27-year-old was somewhat generous.

The academy graduate, despite being a regular fixture in the matchday squad in Erik ten Hag’s debut season in charge, scored just three goals and registered one assist in 2022/23. He was not part of United’s strongest midfield and the signing of Mason Mount and the emergence of Kobbie Mainoo threatened to push him even further down the pecking order.

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However, United valued the Scotland international at somewhere between £40m and £50m and wanted to secure a fee in the upper echelons of that bracket. It was enough to put West Ham off, meaning McTominay was retained beyond the end of the summer transfer window.

On reflection, such was the way United’s season unfolded, it was a good job they kept him. He ended the season with 10 goals, with only Rasmus Hojlund (16) and Bruno Fernandes (15) scoring more in 2023/24. He chipped in with some big goals at big moments, including the opener in the Reds’ historic 4-3 win over Liverpool in the FA Cup quarter-final in March.

Despite his contributions in the most recent campaign, he is a player the club should be looking to try and offload this summer. United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe wants the club to become more proactive in the seller’s market and they have no choice but to raise funds through player sales to remain within the boundaries of the Premier League’s profit and sustainability rules [PSR].

United need to trim their squad this summer and have no choice but to cash in on one or two big-name players. McTominay, even more so after reaching double figures for goals last season, is one of the most sellable assets within the squad that United should be willing to let go.

McTominay will be an attractive option for a wealth of clubs this summer, especially those who are keen to add a goalscoring midfielder to their ranks. What’s more, every penny they earn from a sale would count as pure profit because of his status as an academy graduate.

Selling homegrown players is a way of working within the Premier League’s strict financial rules. Others on United books include Mason Greenwood, who could also be sold this summer.

Ahead of the transfer window opening later this week, McTominay’s stock is higher than it was in last summer’s window. With one year left on his current deal, now is the perfect juncture for United to cash in and secure as high a fee as possible for the midfielder.

United, however, would be within their rights to increase the Lancaster-born midfielder’s valuation further if he enjoys a successful European Championship campaign with Scotland. The Scots have qualified for their second successive Euros and will get the tournament underway on Friday night, facing hosts Germany in Munich.

In Group A alongside Germany, Hungary and Switzerland, Scotland will fancy their chances of progressing to the knockout stages. They impressed in qualifying and McTominay was key to them finishing second behind Spain, scoring seven goals in eight matches.

If McTominay makes his mark in Germany, even just by scoring a couple of goals, it will inflate his price tag further. Countless players have moved on the back of a successful international tournament, often with their respective valuations having made a noticeable leap.

United need to correct their recruitment mistakes of yesteryear this summer and a big part of that is knowing when to offload players at the right time. McTominay is at a juncture in his career where the Reds should recognise they are unlikely to ever secure a higher fee, regardless of how successful he or Scotland are in Germany over the next few weeks.

United are almost guaranteed to receive bids north of the £30m offer West Ham put on the table almost 12 months ago following McTominay’s eye-catching season in front of goal. A goal or two in Germany, however, will increase his valuation a little bit further.