Mass Exodus of Manchester United stars in January

Manchester United midfielder Scott McTominay could consider leaving the club in the New Year after a report revealed he Is still a top target for Fulham.

McTominay will be into the final 18 months of his contract with Man Utd by the time the January transfer window comes around. He could have left the club this summer, but opted to fight for his place.

However, the signings of Mason Mount from Chelsea and Sofyan Amrabat from Fiorentina have added extra competition, which has worked to the detriment of McTominay.

Therefore, Sky Sports News claims ‘he may be more open’ to leaving Man Utd in 2024, having been ‘reluctant’ to find a new club last month.

In turn, he is ‘high’ up the list of transfer targets for Fulham, who are bracing themselves for another attempt by Bayern Munich to sign Joao Palhinha in January despite the Portugal international signing a new contract at Craven Cottage since the collapsed move.

Fulham have also considered an ambitious raid for Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg from Tottenham Hotspur, but the Denmark international is holding out for bigger clubs.

As a one-club man for Man Utd so far, McTominay would also be an ambitious target for Fulham, despite his decline in fortunes recently. It is not yet clear how much they might have to pay to sign him.

One of the reasons Palhinha’s move to Bayern fell through in the summer was the lack of time Fulham had to sign a replacement. Now, they are actively planning ahead of his possible exit in January, which has led them to focus on the Scotland international.

Would Fulham be a good fit for McTominay?

Now 26 years old, McTominay should be approaching the prime of his career, but risks spending it on the bench if he stays at Man Utd.

Having made more than 200 appearances for the club since emerging from their academy, he can be proud of what he has achieved at Old Trafford, even if he hasn’t always been the most popular player or utilised to his maximum potential.

A move to Fulham, who finished in the top half of the Premier League table last season, might give him an opportunity to prove himself at a decent level again.

That said, he would be a different kind of midfielder to Palhinha, who is more of an enforcer, so could find himself in a similar situation to what has happened at Man Utd in terms of limiting him.

Manchester United will face a “crucial point” in 2024 as the Premier League club aim to lure “one more important centre-back” to Old Trafford in January or the summer.

That is according to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, who revealed three players that remain on United’s radar in a bid to reinforce Erik ten Hag’s squad.

Ten Hag’s squad has been ravaged by injuries in the early stages of the season, with the United manager attempting to turn the tide back in his side’s favour.

However, United were dealt another blow on Friday after the club confirmed that Lisandro Martinez would be “out of action for an extended period” due to an injury.

Raphael Varane has returned for United after recovering from injury, but it is believed that Ten Hag is keen to add another important centre-back to his squad.

Ten Hag brought Jonny Evans back to Old Trafford in the summer and the United defender impressed in his side’s 1-0 win over Burnley at Turf Moor last week.

Benjamin Pavard, who left Bayern Munich and signed for Inter Milan in the summer, was heavily linked with United and appeared likely to arrive at Old Trafford.

However, a transfer failed to materialise for the 27-year-old French defender after West Ham pulled the plug on a £30m move for ex-Red Devils skipper Harry Maguire.

Eric Bailly, who signed for Turkish side Besiktas, was axed from the United squad in the summer as Ten Hag deemed the Ivorian defender surplus to requirements.

Victor Lindelof, Evans and Maguire are all options for Ten Hag to deploy in the United starting XI when he is without Martinez or Varane.

Romano has now revealed that United want another defender and Jean-Clair Todibo, Edmond Tapsoba and Antonio Silva are among the names on the club’s radar.

“A crucial point for Manchester United in 2024 is about the centre-back,” he said on his YouTube channel.

“United, in the internal discussions, are thinking in January or the summer of bringing in one more important centre-back.

“Over the summer, in July and August, they talked about two players in particular: Benjamin Pavard, before he joined Inter, and Jean-Clair Todibo, the Nice centre-back who is having a very good season in France.