Fulham increase bid for Manchester United’s McTominay to about £20m

EXIT DOOR? Manchester United's Scott McTominay during a Premier League match at Old Trafford.

Fulham have made a second bid of about £20m for Scott McTominay. Manchester United are minded to sell but may hold out for their desired fee of £25m-£30m.

Galatasaray and Fenerbahce are also interested in the Scotland midfielder, who has a year left on his contract with an option to extend for a further year.

Although Erik ten Hag values McTominay, who scored 10 goals last season, United’s need to sell if they are to strengthen means the club will allow him to go for the apposite price.

This means Fulham may have to up their offer. Whether Fenerbahce, who are managed by José Mourinho, and Galatasaray firm up their interest with a serious bid remains to be seen.

If McTominay departs Ten Hag has Mason Mount to offer competition to Bruno Fernandes for the No 10 position. McTominay played in a variety of roles last season, from defensive midfielder to forward.

Meanwhile, Chelsea have accepted a bid from Atlético Madrid for Conor Gallagher. The England midfielder is in the final year of his contract and the Blues are keen to sell rather than risk losing him for nothing next summer.

Atlético’s offer is thought to be worth up to €40m (£33.7m), some way short of the £50m Chelsea had hoped to receive at the start of the summer. 

However, any fee for Gallagher goes down as pure profit because he is an academy product, an important factor in the context of profitability and sustainability rules.

Gallagher has previously indicated a willingness to stay at his boyhood club if the conditions for a move do not meet his requirements and must decide whether to move to Atlético, who will play in the Champions League for a 12th consecutive season under Diego Simeone. He has rejected Chelsea’s offer of a new contract.

Gallagher, who has also attracted interest this summer from Tottenham and Aston Villa this summer, started 37 of Chelsea’s Premier League games last season, missing the other because of suspension. He captained the team in the majority of those games.

Elsewhere, Arsenal have made a €30m bid for Mikel Merino which is expected to be accepted by Real Sociedad. Arsenal are trying to see off interest from Barcelona in the Spain midfielder, who was part of the squad that won Euro 2024. 

He appeared in every match but started only the final group game against Albania.

Mikel Arteta wants to make the 28-year-old, whose age sets him apart from many of the club’s recent outfield signings, his third major buy of the summer after Riccardo Calafiori and goalkeeper David Raya. 

Merino has Premier League experience from a spell with Newcastle in 2017-18.

Guardian