Simon Jordan slates Toon transfer rumour - Nail on the head?

TalkSPORT host Simon Jordan has criticised reports claiming Newcastle will launch a summer bid for Scott McTominay, claiming it makes little sense to add a player who isn't good enough for a side we're trying to overtake.

The Scotsman has seen little game time under Erik Ten Hag, particularly after the signing of Casemiro, and has often been limited to minutes off the bench or during the early rounds of the cups at Man Utd.

Considering we've been pursuing a holding midfielder for several windows now, this would feel like an underwhelming signing. He would add to our depth and has plenty of experience, but fans fear he isn't the quality No.6 needed to boost our hopes of becoming a top four club.

But the issue, which Jordan debates, is that trying to buy someone who is perceived as surplus to requirements at the very club you’re wanting to compete with in the next couple of years feels regressive. 

Here’s what Jordan had to say when speaking on talkSPORT:

“McTominay taking Newcastle to the next level? Well, what is the next level?”

“So, they are going to take a player from a club who is competing in the same space as them, who they don’t think is good enough? How does that work then?  

“(Newcastle) are competing with Manchester United. Very, very rarely do we see, at the top of the table, clubs selling players to one another. It happens now and again; (Dimitar) Berbatov and (Robin) Van Persie.  

“But, in this instance, I am looking at it and saying ‘what is the next level?’ If Newcastle are competing for a Champions League space, they are going to be competing with Man United.  

“So, for Newcastle to take a player from Man United – who Man United will only sell if they don’t think is good enough to be in their side – seems to be at odds with what (Newcastle) are trying to achieve.

“I think McTominay is alright. He's a symptom of Man United going through a mediocre phase. I don’t think McTominay gets within a gnat’s hair of the elite Man United teams.

“Ultimately, he is a by-product of a very mediocre Man United period. He’s OK but he’s not a great player. I think he’s average."

Of course some back-up players could be huge for us - the likes of Kieran Tierney would be a big upgrade and pretty much anyone on the bench at City would aid our cause.

However, this move in particular would be very uninspiring. He wouldn't come cheap, yet it's open for debate if he even improves our first team?