‘I was in Italy and this is what sources said about Scott McTominay's move to Aston Villa’
There is a growing feeling in Italian football that Aston Villa-linked midfielder Scott McTominay is closing in on a return to the UK in the coming months.
That is according to former Villa chief executive Keith Wyness, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, who checked up on the Scottish international’s future last weekend.
McTominay has been heavily linked with a return to the Premier League in recent weeks, with both Aston Villa and Manchester United tipped to make a move for him in January.
Wyness revealed that he spoke to several people with a close connection to Serie A, and there was a general verdict that McTominay’s time at Napoli is drawing to a close.
The 29-year-old is out of contract with Massimiliano Allegri’s side in the summer of 2028, and is understood to be growing increasingly keen to head back to the UK.
Former Manchester United chief scout Mick Brown recently told Football Insider that Villa are better-placed than his former club to strike a deal, with United not keen to go back over old ground with McTominay.
Scott McTominay in line for Premier League return
Villa’s former chief executive Wyness – who served as CEO at Villa Park between 2016 and 2018 and now runs a consultancy business advising elite clubs – believes that McTominay could be in line to return to the Premier League either in January or next summer.
The midfielder’s contract situation is beginning to cause concern for Napoli, and they could offload him, despite him scoring 14 goals in all competitions last season.
Speaking on the latest edition of Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, Wyness explained how his sources in Italy feel that a deal could be close.
“I was in Italy last weekend talking to some football people about McTominay at the moment, and they certainly feel that there's a move happening for him to come back to the UK,” he said.
“I don't know whether they feel he's peaked or he's been found out a little bit in Italy, but certainly there is a general feeling amongst the people I spoke to that he may well be heading back.”
Aston Villa ‘unlikely’ to face battle with Man United
Football Insider revealed earlier in October that United are “unlikely” to make a move to bring McTominay back to his boyhood club any time soon.
The Red Devils spent heavily on their midfield in the summer, and are not planning further additions in that area any time soon.
That opens the door for Villa to potentially move in and strike a deal, with one of their biggest competitors not prepared to fully take part in the race.
Unai Emery’s side are undoubtedly big admirers of McTominay, and are sure to be involved if he becomes available in the winter window.