Aston Villa Track Scott McTominay Following £25m Napoli Price Tag
Aston Villa are linked with Napoli midfielder Scott McTominay as contract talks between the player and his current club reach an impasse in Italy. The Serie A side are open to selling the player for between £21m and £25m (€25m-€30m) to avoid future financial exposure.
The 29-year-old midfielder has built a strong reputation in Italy through his physical central presence.
Aston Villa
clubHis offensive productivity remains impressive in domestic play, having scored 5 goals in 11 Serie A matches this season.
Manchester United, Real Madrid, and AC Milan are also named as competing clubs monitoring the situation.
Napoli
clubDuring ongoing negotiations with Napoli, the player is seeking a salary raise to between £6m and £6.8m (€7-8m) annually.
Unai Emery’s defensive structure at Villa Park
Aston Villa exposed defensive transition issues during their 4-4 draw at Manchester United, where they surrendered 3.55 expected goals and 44 box touches. Unai Emery needs central stability to protect the back line when matches become stretched. McTominay offers strong aerial ability and box entry, but he does not profile as a primary defensive shield.
Direct selection battles with Leon Goretzka and John McGinn
Integrating another midfield runner would create overlapping roles inside the squad. Leon Goretzka and John McGinn already occupy the spaces designated for late box arrivals and second-ball finishes. Adding a similar profile would increase squad depth but would not resolve the need for a dedicated ball-winning anchor.
Cost analysis of Napoli’s £25m asking price
A transfer valuation between £21m and £25m, combined with annual wage demands up to £6.8m, makes any deal a significant outlay. Napoli hold the player under contract until June 2027, giving them leverage in valuation discussions. Sport Witness (reported by Sean Lunt).