Manchester United have already signed their Scott McTominay replacement as transfer nears

Scott McTominay looks to be heading closer to the Manchester United exit door as the transfer deadline nears.

The midfielder has been the subject of bids from both Fulham and Napoli this summer. The cottagers have had two bids rejected for the midfielder, but are said not to have given up their interest, while Napoli are eyeing a potential loan deal with the club’s president refusing to rule out a move.

Even without McTominay’s exit, United are looking to strengthen their midfield options before next Friday’s deadline. The club are working on a deal for Paris Saint-Germain’s Manuel Ugarte, but he wouldn’t come in as a direct replacement for McTominay with the Uruguayan often playing in a deeper midfield role.

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If a sale of the Scotland international leads to United looking for a more attacking midfield option is still to be seen. But one summer signing has already proved that he could be a replacement for the role that McTominay often plays for United.

Under Erik ten Hag, the midfielder is often turned to to come off the bench and provide an impact when the team are searching for a goal. The midfielder’s runs into the box and physicality at set pieces provide an attacking threat, with the player scoring some vital late goals during his time at the club, especially during the 2023/24 campaign.

That’s exactly what summer signing Joshua Zirkzee can now provide when coming off the bench. Instead of turning to McTominay, Ten Hag can instead turn to Zirkzee, who scored the only goal of the game from the bench in the 1-0 win over Fulham on