Manchester United urged to re-sign £26m star after ‘devastating’ transfer mistake

Teddy Sheringham wants Manchester United to rectify a ‘devastating’ transfer mistake this summer.

United are already preparing for the summer transfer window, although their spending power will be depend on the club’s Champions League qualification.

The Red Devils were outside of the top-four when Ruben Amorim was sacked but have climbed back into the Champions League places under caretaker boss Michael Carrick.

Manchester United’s priority this summer will be the signing of at least one central midfielder ahead of Casemiro’s departure.

United are being strongly linked with Carlos Baleba, Elliot Anderson and Adam Wharton after failing to sign a new midfielder last summer.

But Sheringham has suggested his former club should be looking to bring Scott McTominay back to Old Trafford after being left ‘devastated’ by his departure in 2024.

McTominay made 255 appearances for his boyhood club before being sold to Italian giants Napoli for just under £26m.

The Scotland international enjoyed a sensational first season in Naples and was nominated for the Ballon d’Or award after helping Antonio Conte’s side win Serie A.

McTominay has since been linked with a return to the Premier League and Sheringham says it would be a ‘travesty’ if he joined one of Manchester United’s rivals.

‘I’m devastated to see Scott McTominay performing so well somewhere else,’ Sheringham said in an interview with MrQ. ‘Manchester United could do with Scott McTominay right this minute.

‘When he left Manchester United, I wasn’t happy. Scott McTominay is one of those players who digs in when things aren’t going quite so well and makes things happen.

‘I think that’s exactly what you need when you’re struggling. To see him doing so well at Napoli just makes it even more of a bad move on Manchester United’s part, but I am delighted for him on a personal level that he’s doing so well in Italy.

‘If he comes back to England, then there’s no way Manchester United can miss out on him. He simply cannot come back to the Premier League without going to Manchester United.

‘That would be a travesty. That cannot happen. If he’s coming back to the Premier League, then he has to go to Old Trafford.’

Meanwhile, former Manchester United midfielder Gordon Strachan says it would be a mistake for McTominay to return to Old Trafford despite being hugely impressed by his spell in Italy.

‘I don’t think Scott McTominay should retrace his steps,’ Strachan told BetVictor.

‘I think he has to go into a system that allows him to be the midfield player who gets into the box without too many touches.

‘I think that’s what he fell upon at Napoli, a system that suits him to be free to just get in the box. Would Manchester United play like that?

‘Because you’ve got Bruno Fernandes playing as a number 10 now, and they’ve got to change Fernandes for anybody else, I doubt it. 

‘They’ve got to have the other players who are more set to a certain extent, but Bruno gets forward, even Casemiro gets forward.

‘But does he like going back there, McTominay, taking the ball from the back four, and playing from there and running from there?

‘Or does he prefer being 30 yards further up the pitch, waiting for crosses, doing edge-of-the-box stuff? It’s got to be a system that suits him.

‘I don’t know where he thinks it would be the nicest place to play, to be honest with you. But the good thing about it is that his performances allow him to have these choices.’

McTominay has been slightly less effective this season but has still contributed ten goals in all competitions.

Defending champions Napoli are only third in Serie A, 11 points behind leaders Inter Milan, and crashed out of the Champions League in the group stage.

Napoli were held to a 2-2 draw by top-four rivals Roma on Sunday and return to action next weekend against Atalanta.

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