Everton must now move for 26-year-old Manchester United star if they sell Amadou Onana this summer – opinion

Everton must make a move for 26-year-old midfielder Scott McTominay this summer, should the club sell Amadou Onana.

Indeed, the Manchester United midfielder has emerged as a potential target for Sean Dyche’s side as per reports in The Athletic, and he could be an ideal replacement should Onana move on.

The Belgian international has consistently been linked with a move away from Goodison Park, despite only joining the Blues last summer in a £33m deal with French side Lille.

A cryptic Instagram post following the final game of the season saw the 21-year-old include the hashtag ‘I’m out’, leading some to believe he was hinting at a summer departure. Though Fabrizio Romano insists that Onana ‘loves the club‘ and will stay.

Nonetheless, Everton still find themselves choked by financial limitations and if an acceptable bid is tabled for the midfielder, the club will likely sell him, continuing the trend of high-profile departures in recent transfer windows.

Richarlison’s £60m move to Spurs last summer was a huge loss for the club, while Anthony Gordon’s £45m switch to Newcastle United in January was a further indicator of how far down the Premier League food chain we have fallen in recent years.

Onana will likely follow suit eventually, and Everton must replace the Belgian appropriately, and avoid the transfer window failures that have plagued the club during the Moshiri era.

McTominay would be fantastic signing, but PL rivals bring more to the table than Everton

Scott McTominay could be a very astute signing for Everton, his commanding and diligent presence in midfield would compliment Sean Dyche’s existing options.

At 26-years-old, the Scot already has 144 Premier League appearances under his belt for Manchester United, though looks set to leave Old Trafford this summer.

Eddie Howe’s Newcastle side pose a potential threat to McTominay’s signature, as they are also linked with a summer approach.

While Newcastle can offer Champions League football next season, Everton can only hope to avoid another relegation tightrope walk, and a player of McTominay’s quality could be the difference in Everton avoiding a third PL safety struggle.

A tenacious ball-winner with a wide range of passing and box-to-box work rate, the 26-year-old Scotland international could fit right into a Sean Dyche XI at Everton next season.