One of the biggest feel-good stories from Manchester City’s 2021/22 season was the rise of James McAtee.
The gifted academy prospect was first handed his senior Carabao Cup debut from the substitutes bench in an emphatic 6-1 victory against Wycombe Wanderers.
The 19-year old’s cameo appearance was impressive enough to slot into Pep Guardiola’s good books for the remainder of the campaign, as the starlet also went on to make his landmark first appearances in the Premier League, FA Cup, and Champions League against Everton, Swindon Town and Sporting CP respectively.
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Making six senior appearances in total for Manchester City's first-team squad, James McAtee certainly made a significant leap towards his eventual dream of becoming a regular first-team player for his boyhood club.
However, with several clubs in English football now tracking the Stockport-born attacking midfielder’s encouraging progress this term, there has been no shortage of clubs circling around him in a bid to sign him either on loan or on a permanent basis in the following season.
In addition, common sense suggests that despite the highly-rated youngster’s bags of talent, it is next to impossible for him to usurp world-class players such as Kevin De Bruyne, Bernardo Silva and Ilkay Gundogan and Phil Foden in Manchester City’s midfield immediately.
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As a result, the likes of Leeds United, Brighton & Hove Albion, Swansea City, Huddersfield United, and Queens Park Rangers have all been linked with signing the Englishman in recent weeks, as they eye the prospect of getting their hands on one of the most gifted young footballers in the country at present.
Out of the interested clubs, a brand-new revelation has emerged about Leeds in particular trying to prise away the silky attacker.
As per a report by Pol Ballus of the Athletic, Jesse Marsch's club are ‘very keen’ on signing James McAtee either on loan or on a permanent basis from Manchester City next season.
The Premier League champions are said not to be ‘open’ to the England Under-21 international’s departure, as they plan to keep him ‘close’ to the first-term during the 2022/23 campaign. However, it has also been mentioned that there exists a possibility that their resolve will be ‘tested’ if their chase to sign midfield target Kalvin Phillips ‘drags on’.
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As widely reported by a number of sources, one of Manchester City’s main aims ahead of the coming term is to secure the services of the revered defensive-midfielder as a replacement for Fernandinho, who departed the club this summer following a nine-year spell at the club, and to also provide cover for first-choice Rodri next season.
However, the pursuit to sign Kalvin Phillips is yet to reach completion, with an agreement regarding the price still to be reached between both clubs.
As a result, logic would dictate that Pep Guardiola’s side may sacrifice James McAtee in a bid to drive down the price to sign arguably one of the best number sixes in the Premier League.
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However, a loan move looks a lot more on the cards than a permanent exit for McAtee, considering the fleet-footed star was tied down to a new contract until the summer of 2026 as recently as in February this year.
Topics: Football, Leeds United, Manchester City, Manchester City Transfer News & Rumours, Premier League, Transfers
Srinivas Sadhanand