Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag has drawn up a three-man shortlist for the summer transfer window as he bids to boost his options in midfield.
Ten Hag has enjoyed a successful first season in the Old Trafford dugout, winning the Carabao Cup and guiding the Red Devils to a likely top three spot. The Dutchman began his overhaul of the United squad with five permanent signings in the summer transfer window.
That started a refresh of their midfield, with both Casemiro and Christian Eriksen arriving in Manchester. But Ten Hag is set to make the position a priority again in the upcoming window, with Declan Rice, Frenkie de Jong and Jude Bellingham all being eyed.
According to the Daily Mail, all three are on United's shortlist, with the Red Devils said to be 'keen' to sign them. They face a battle to sign any of the trio though, with De Jong frequently insisting he is happy at Barcelona.
Meanwhile Bellingham and Rice are set to be in high demand, with Liverpool, Chelsea, Real Madrid and Manchester City all linked with the England duo. All three will also likely command large transfer fees, with none of their clubs willing to sell on the cheap.
Ten Hag's desire to improve his options in midfield means that Scott McTominay is facing an uncertain future. He has started just seven Premier League games so far this season, with the Scot often finding himself restricted to appearances off the bench.
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McTominay starred for Scotland in the most recent international break, scoring four goals in two games. That helped the Tartan Army make a perfect start to their Euro 2024 qualifying campaign with wins over Cyprus and Spain.
The 26-year-old was the subject of interest from Newcastle in the January transfer window but he ended up staying at Old Trafford. His situation will now be re-evaluated in the summer, with Ten Hag set to embark on a midfield revamp.
It is stated that McTominay will not be 'pushed out' of United and that he will play an important part in the run-in. There is also some sensitivity to the fact that selling him would mean moving on a homegrown player.
The Scot still has three years remaining on his contract, having signed a fresh deal in the summer of 2020. But with his opportunities under Ten Hag diminishing, he will now likely be weighing up his next move, though the United boss remains a fan.
“I think Scott can play in many roles, and it's clear, he has scoring capabilities, it's clear. We have seen it for Scotland but also this season for us, he is a really good finisher, yeah," Ten Hag said.
“But I see him as a midfielder, so I think I am happy with what Wout [Weghorst] is doing because when Wout is in the team, the team is performing better.”
