Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has reminded Man United of what they are missing - Erik ten Hag would agree

Few players in Manchester United's recent history have divided fan opinion more than Scott McTominay.

The Scotland international joined United as a five-year-old, made his way up through the ranks and fully established himself as a first-team regular from the 2017/18 onwards. He made 255 appearances for the club under five different managers, both permanent and interim.

Consistently offering his all for his boyhood club, McTominay earned the trust and respect of his coaches and teammates. However, he often split opinion among supporters, with some believing he was fully worthy of a shirt and others not so convinced.

But as managers came and went, the Scot continued to play his part, particularly under Erik ten Hag, who found an extra gear from the now-Napoli midfielder.

McTominay never was the defensive-minded midfielder some previous United coaches thought he was. He was at his best when attacking and that was reflected in his tally of ten goals last season.

That was the Scot's best scoring season for United, meaning it elevated his stock to an all-time high ahead of the summer transfer window. His contract at Old Trafford was due to expire this coming summer and it meant United had a decision to make, despite having an option to extend his stay by a further 12 months until 2026.

United, of course, have faced scrutiny for their consistent failure to cash-in on players at the right time in recent years, with co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe determined to improve the club's productivity in the seller's market ahead of last summer's window.

Having scored ten goals and created three, McTominay had become one of the most sellable assets within the squad. With 12 months left on his contract, it made sense from a financial