Aston Villa and Manchester United may have to wait a little longer to find out whether Scott McTominay is available.
Both clubs have shown interest in bringing the Scotland international back to the Premier League. And with his Napoli contract situation still unresolved, a move next summer remains a possibility.
McTominay, however, is in no rush to make a decision. Napoli also have a new plan to convince him to stay, potentially delaying his departure for another two or three years.
McTominay wants more time to decide
Italian journalist Giovanni Scotto, speaking on YouTube and quoted by AreaNapoli, has provided an update on the midfielder’s future.
“He hasn’t renewed with Napoli and wants to think things through. Manchester United and Aston Villa have shown some interest, but McTominay intends to wait,” he explained.
Previous reports in Italy suggested McTominay could leave Napoli in 2027, with his salary demands complicating negotiations over a new contract.
The midfielder reportedly wants €8m (£6.9m) per season, which Napoli are reluctant to pay. His current deal expires in 2028.
Scotto now says the Italian club are considering a different approach.
“Napoli don’t want to lose McTominay and will offer him a contract renewal with the possibility of leaving through a gentlemen’s agreement, a sort of handshake.”
“I’m not aware of any clauses. If the midfielder receives a significant offer, Napoli could let him leave in two or three years.”
That would allow Napoli to keep one of their most important players while giving McTominay some reassurance about his longer-term future.
However, Scotto says an earlier departure would come at a price.
“If the player wants to leave as early as June, his valuation for next summer is €25-30m (£21.7-26m), no less.”
Stats from Premier League compared to Serie A
| Statistic | Premier League | Serie A |
|---|---|---|
| Club | Manchester United | Napoli |
| Seasons covered | 2016/17–2024/25 | 2024/25–2026/27 so far |
| Appearances | 178 | 69 |
| Starts | 117 | 66 |
| Minutes played | 10,932 | 5,880 |
| Goals | 19 | 22 |
| Assists | 4 | 7 |
| Goals + assists | 23 | 29 |
| Minutes per goal | 575 | 267 |
| Goals per 90 minutes | 0.16 | 0.34 |
| Minutes per goal or assist | 475 | 203 |
| League matches only, including substitute appearances. Excludes domestic cups, European competitions and internationals. Minutes and assists use Opta Analyst data consistently across both leagues. Rate statistics are calculated from those totals and rounded. Figures checked on 8 October 2026. |
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Napoli have another reason to keep him
There’s also the question of what Napoli’s midfield could look like next season. Scotto believes Kevin De Bruyne, Stanislav Lobotka and André-Frank Zambo Anguissa are all expected to leave. Goalkeeper Alex Meret’s situation also needs clarification.
Losing three midfielders would make keeping McTominay particularly important for the Italian side.
Meanwhile, the former Manchester United player has received medical clearance to return to competitive football.
He underwent cardiac ablation in Manchester on September 8 to treat a minor benign arrhythmia. After passing medical examinations on October 7, he’s now available to Massimiliano Allegri again.
So the whole situation is still open. McTominay hasn’t committed his future to Napoli, and there’s now a clearer idea of what a summer transfer could cost United or Villa.
The question is whether Napoli’s proposed agreement will convince him to stay longer.
