Manchester United £60m deal could open door to Newcastle United £40m transfer move

Manchester United have completed the £60million signing of Mason Mount from Premier League rivals Chelsea.

The England international decided on leaving Stamford Bridge at the end of the last season and the Red Devils have been relentless in their pursuit to sign him.

Multiple bids were turned down before an offer worth £55m plus add-ons was agreed. Mount has signed an initial five-year contract and will wear the club’s iconic No.7 shirt.

Following Mount’s arrival, it’s likely manager Erik ten Hag will look to offload players in order to generate further funds and stay within Financial Fair Play regulations.

As reported by the Daily Mail last month, Man United are willing to listen to offers on up to 13 players, including Newcastle United target Scott McTominay.

The McTominay links haven’t exactly been well-received by Newcastle fans but it’s true that Eddie Howe is a fan of the midfielder and remains a potential option this summer.

Howe first identified the Scotland midfielder as a potential option in January but an enquiry was knocked back by the Red Devils.

That was despite McTominay dropping down the pecking order at Old Trafford last season following the summer arrivals Casemiro and Christian Eriksen.

The 26-year-old started six of ten Hag’s opening seven Premier League matches in charge but managed just four more between then and the end of the season.

He has, however, hit top form during Scotland’s perfect start to their European Championships Group A qualification campaign - netting five goals in four games.

Man United want £40m for McTominay, a fee Newcastle can’t envisage paying, but that asking price could be reduced depending on how desperate they are to generate additional funds.

Certainly, Mount’s arrival and plus the fact ten Tag wants to sign at least a goalkeeper and a striker suggests the sale of players sooner rather than later would be welcomed.

Speaking at the end of last season, ten Hag urged Man United bosses to back him in the summer transfer window - or risk being left behind their Premier League top four rivals.

Although ten Tag was restricted to loan moves for Wout Weghorst, Marcel Sabitzer and Jack Butland in January, a club record £220m was spent last summer on the likes of Antony, Lisandro Martinez, Casemiro and Tyrell Malacia.

Only Chelsea have spent more during the 2022-23 campaign. Newcastle spent £165m on Nick Pope, Matt Targett, Matt Targett, Sven Botman, Alexander Isak and Anthony Gordon.