How Tottenham Could Unlock Scott McTominay’s Potential and Succeed Where Man Utd Failed Amid Napoli Interest
Since reaching his prime and joining Napoli, Scott McTominay has become a much more dangerous player, and certain Premier League teams are now interested in him.
With seven goals in the 2023–24 top tier, McTominay had his greatest Premier League season when he departed Manchester United last summer.
But he departed under a cloud of unfavourable assessments from previous years that said he was ineffective or perhaps abused at Old Trafford.
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McTominay has elevated his game to an entirely new level in Italy. The Man Utd academy product, who played as a striker in junior football before switching to midfield, has been able to combine his greatest skills under Antonio Conte’s system, which was even developed for him last season.
Indeed, in order to switch to a 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1 system where McTominay could play as an advanced, box-breaking midfielder, Conte even broke up his typical back-three structure. It was successful.
In his rookie campaign, McTominay led Napoli to the Serie A championship and won the league MVP award with 12 goals.
Back at Old Trafford, no player—not even midfielders or strikers—scored more than ten goals in the 2024–25 Premier League campaign. It didn’t look good.
The question is whether McTominay could have maintained that level of performance in the Premier League or if his effectiveness in a different setting in Serie A was due to his element of surprise.
For those who were curious, McTominay’s potential return to the Premier League has recently gained attention.
According to a report in The Sun, he was having trouble handling the attention he receives in Naples, which could be the reason for a possible return to his native country.
According to some trustworthy sources, that assertion is untrue. However, there are ways for him to return to the Premier League.
TEAMtalk reveal that, McTominay is being pursued by Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur.
McTominay is an intriguing player because Tottenham has been searching for more dynamism in their midfield for some time, but how would they deploy him if they could entice him away from his devoted Neapolitan base?
Thomas Frank has been starting Tottenham in either a 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1 formation thus far this season. Three centre midfielders are used in both systems; the distinction is whether two of them play in a double pivot behind a no. 10 or one of them sits as an anchor.
Frank has used a variety of midfield lineups. Only Joao Palhinha pairing with Rodrigo Bentancur and Pape Matar Sarr on either side, Bentancur sitting with Lucas Bergvall and Sarr on either side, and Palhinha and Bentancur in a double pivot with either Bergvall or Xavi Simons in attacking midfield have been observed more than once.
While James Maddison and Yves Bissouma, whose contract expires at the end of the season, have been sidelined by injury this season, the versatile Archie Grey has gotten some playing time in a variety of situations.
Dejan Kulusevski, a candidate for the number ten position, is in the same boat. What combination, though, would McTominay fit into the most if he were added?
Positions That McTominay has Played for Napoli
Instead of being wasted in a double pivot like he was for United, McTominay was most frequently employed as an attacking midfielder when playing in a 4-2-3-1 last season.
Nonetheless, McTominay was typically the left-sided central midfielder in Napoli’s 4-3-3 formation, which still allowed him to move forward.
With his burdens lifted, McTominay has taken full advantage of his newfound independence.
Anyone who wants to give him another shot in the Premier League should consider why he’s had greater success with Napoli and not restrict his capacity to make an effect in the last third.
The bigger if would be whether or not he wants to accept it.
If you watch closely, the formation is not that hard, It’s easy to follow the formula. McTominay’s role as one of the no. 8s appears clear if Spurs plan to play a 4-3-3.
However, they would have to give him a chance to play attacking midfield in a 4-2-3-1. Due to their injuries this season, Maddison and Kulusevski have been unable to play there; but, once healthy, they and Simons would compete for the same spot.
It’s interesting to note that McTominay has occasionally been tested as a left-winger this season, in part because Kevin de Bruyne joined Napoli’s midfield.
Although McTominay by himself wouldn’t be the solution, adding someone like him who can support assaults in that kind of region could lessen the pressure.
Left wing is now Spurs’ top priority position to find a permanent solution in. However, getting him to leave Napoli, where he has a contract that expires in 2028, appears to be a difficult task.
The scenario would need to be evaluated in the summer because a January move appears challenging. Spurs will also need to address additional concerns with their midfield.
After Palhinha’s loan from Bayern Munich, will they retain him permanently? When Bissouma’s contract expires, do they release him?
If applied appropriately, McTominay would be an intriguing new addition to the mix, regardless of how they handle those kinds of problems.
Although, before Spurs can assess their chances of getting him back to Britain, a lot of preparation must be done.
