Manchester United could sell their second-highest goalscorer in the summer - but there's a catch

A football team would rarely sell their second-highest goalscorer at the end of a season.

Finding the back of the net is the most important skill in a generally low-scoring sport and yet Manchester United might sell Scott McTominay, who has nine goals this term.

The 27-year-old has been in the best goalscoring form of his career and he's almost doubled his tally from the last two seasons combined (five). He's scored important goals at crucial times and United would have 11 fewer points in the league without his contributions.

McTominay scored a brace against Brentford in October to win 2-1, he scored an equaliser against Sheffield United in the same month, he scored twice against Chelsea in December in another 2-1 victory while he found the net against Wolves at Molineux and also scored against Aston Villa.

ALSO READ: My world came crashing down - but now I'm thriving on loan

ALSO READ: Berrada set to have significant say in any United managerial change

Naturally, someone else might have stepped up to the plate if McTominay hadn't played in any of those games, but United would be on 36 points if those goals hadn't happened.

That means they would be sitting in 12th position and Erik ten Hag would have been sacked. Although Ten Hag was open to selling McTominay last summer and West Ham were interested, he's fought to be involved and, ironically, he's helped save his manager's job.

Ten Hag has gone from placing McTominay on the transfer list to saying he is 'so pleased' to have him in his squad, which probably shouldn't be a surprise given his contribution.

"I'm not going to spit my dummy out and say I don’t want to play," said McTominay during the international break about his club situation and evolving squad role.

"