Aston Villa and Manchester United Draw 4-4 in Thrilling Encounter at Old Trafford
Unai Emery commemorated his 200th Premier League match with an exhilarating 4-4 draw against Manchester United at Old Trafford, departing the touchline prior to the final whistle. Aston Villa surged to a 2-0 lead within the first four minutes, courtesy of goals from Alysson and Nicolas Jackson. Despite Villa extending their lead to 4-2 following John McGinn’s penalty and Leon Goretzka’s goal, Manchester United’s Joshua Zirkzee and Patrick Dorgu struck late in stoppage time to secure a point for Michael Carrick’s struggling side, currently positioned 18th in the league. Youri Tielemans, now part of United, equalized against his former team just before half-time. This match marked the first time Villa scored four goals without securing a win since December 2007.
The draw leaves Aston Villa in tenth place as they head into the international break and they have not won since their 2-1 victory over Manchester City on October 24. Since that triumph, the team has suffered losses of 3-0 to both Bournemouth and Barcelona and drawn 1-1 with Fulham.
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The performance of Emery’s midfield has come under scrutiny. Although Goretzka, who joined in the summer, aims to add strength and score goals, alongside João Gomes and Boubacar Kamara providing ball-winning abilities and McGinn pushing forward from the left, the midfield appears overstretched when games open up. United recorded a total of 3.55 expected goals compared to Villa’s 2.88 and dominated the visitors’ box with 44 touches versus Villa’s 18.
This context has led to increased interest in a story emerging from Italy.
NAPLES, ITALY – NOVEMBER 08: Scott McTominay of SSC Napoli during the Serie A match between SSC Napoli and SS Lazio at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on November 08, 2026 in Naples, Italy. (Photo by Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Images)
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According to Sean Lunt’s report for Sport Witness, links have emerged between Villa, Manchester United, and Napoli’s Scott McTominay as his representatives aim to pressure the Serie A club amid stalled contract discussions. The 29-year-old midfielder, who will celebrate his 30th birthday in December, seeks an increase from approximately £3.8 million a year (€4.5 million) to between £6 million and £6.8 million (€7-8 million). Napoli has not ruled out selling him for between €25 million and €30 million (around £21 million to £25 million) to avert financial loss, with his agent already engaging with English clubs. A transfer in January seems improbable, as Real Madrid and AC Milan are also watching the situation closely.
The Scotland international notched 10 goals in Serie A last season, and Sport Witness cites him as having scored five goals in 11 appearances this term. He excels in aerial duels but is not particularly known for ball-winning and has not registered a Serie A assist this season while undergoing a heart procedure.
Should Aston Villa Consider a Move for a 30-Year-Old Midfielder?
For now, acquiring McTominay in January and at that price does not seem advisable. His strengths, such as late runs and second-ball goals, already align with those of Goretzka and McGinn. Villa’s primary issue during the match at Old Trafford was their lack of protection once the game opened up.
An alternative approach may be more prudent. With McTominay’s contract set to expire in June 2027, Villa could initiate discussions starting January, potentially securing him on a free transfer—a price that could be worth considering.
