Richard Keys: West Ham United could have signed £30million Scott McTominay on deadline day
Richard Keys has claimed Manchester United ace Scott McTominay could have moved to West Ham in a £30million deal on transfer deadline day, amid high praise for the midfielder.
The beIN SPORTS host gushed over McTominay, exploring Man United to appoint him as their captain and to start him as an advanced midfielder every week.
Keys went on to claim that, had West Ham paid his £30million asking price on transfer deadline in the summer, he would have moved to East London in a comment on how quickly things can change in football.
Writing via his blog [19 December], Keys shared: “The only positive I could see for United was Scott McTominay’s performance. He’s not one for putting in a shift defensively.
“I’ve heard him described as ‘economical’ in that respect. He’s a 10 really, which is how Scotland use him. United should as well now. Play him in that role and give him the armband permanently. He spoke so well after the game. He is a leader – everything that the moody, petulant [Bruno] Fernandes isn’t.
“It’s strange how quickly things change in football. If West Ham had come up with £30m on deadline day – and they hadn’t done other business – McTominay would be a Hammer now.”
The one that got away
Given McTominay’s performances for Manchester United so far this season, it’s safe to say he can be considered one that got away as far as West Ham and David Moyes are concerned.
His widely-reported £40million asking price proved too much for the Hammers, although Keys now claims that price was only £30million, and neither side was willing to negotiate any further on the fee or any possible move. [Manchester Evening News, 7 August]
McTominay would fit perfectly into the Thomas Soucek role at West Ham. A box-crasher whose height and presence can cause issues for the opposition defence both in open play and from set-pieces, taking up a position behind the main striker before making late moves into the box.
With five Premier League goals and one in the Champions League so far this season, as well as seven for Scotland in the Euro 2024 qualifiers, perhaps the board should have backed Moyes on his desire to bring McTominay to East London after all.
In other West Ham news, Divin Mubama may sign a new deal after what Moyes said.