Arsenal exploring shock move for former Manchester United “king” whose “heart still beats for the Premier League”

Napoli's Rasmus Hojlund celebrates with Scott McTominay. (REUTERS/Ciro De Luca)

Arsenal’s 2025/26 season continues to gather momentum, with Mikel Arteta’s latest round of summer reinforcements helping elevate the squad to another level.

Eberechi Eze and Martín Zubimendi have transformed the midfield with their dynamism and control, while the Gunners’ defensive core — William Saliba, Gabriel and David Raya — is once again being talked about as perhaps the best back line in world football.

Meanwhile, Viktor Gyökeres is still finding his rhythm but remains a reliable scorer, and Arsenal sit top of the Premier League while cruising through their Champions League group.

It’s a squad with depth, balance and maturity — yet behind the scenes, Arteta is already exploring future opportunities.

And one of those opportunities involves a name few expected to be linked with Arsenal again.

According to a new report from TEAMtalk, Arsenal have joined a growing list of Premier League clubs keeping tabs on Scott McTominay, whose remarkable rise in Italy has turned him into one of Europe’s most in-form midfielders.

McTominay left Manchester United for Napoli in a €30m deal last summer, but his decision to head to Serie A has proven inspired. Under Antonio Conte, the Scotland international has been outstanding.

Last season, he helped Napoli win the Serie A title and collected the division’s Player of the Season award along the way. This term, he already has eight goals and four assists — becoming a driving force for the reigning Italian champions.

Napoli, unsurprisingly, have no intention of letting him go easily. The club considers him untouchable and has placed a huge €80m (£70.5m) valuation on him, with sources suggesting any smaller bid would be dismissed instantly.

Those close to the player, however, insist that his “heart still beats for the Premier League” and would be open to move back to England, but only for the “the right club, the right project.”

The 28-year-old is under contract until 2028, giving Napoli full leverage. Manchester United still benefit from a 10% sell-on clause, though there is currently little expectation within Old Trafford that he will return.

McTominay’s spectacular resurgence since leaving United has also translated onto the international stage. Most recently, he led Scotland to the 2026 World Cup, scoring a dramatic overhead kick in their decisive qualifier.

His transformation has resonated back home, with Liverpool captain and fellow Scot Andy Robertson offering glowing praise: “I think he went over there with a point to prove. I think he wanted to prove Manchester United wrong and prove people in the Premier League wrong.

“He has gone over there and done that pretty successfully. That’s credit to him, credit to his attitude and his determination to be the best version of himself. Now he is a king over there.”

With his career back on the rise, Arsenal’s interest highlights both McTominay’s value and Arteta’s ambition. Should his “heart still beat for the Premier League,” a move to North London could further elevate his profile and strengthen a squad already chasing major honours.

Barnaby Lane is a highly experienced sports writer who has written for The Times, FourFourTwo Magazine, Sports Illustrated, TalkSPORT, and Business Insider.

Over the years, he's had the pleasure of interviewing some of the biggest names in world sport, including Usain Bolt, Rafael Nadal, Christian Pulisic, and more.