James McAtee looks set to seal a move to Nottingham Forest this summer.
Coming through the ranks at Manchester City’s academy, the 22-year-old’s impending exit comes as no surprise considering he played and won the UEFA U-21 European Championship instead of participating at the FIFA Club World Cup earlier this summer.
Nottingham Forest are set to take a punt on James McAtee, as journalist David Ornstein claimed that they have agreed a deal worth £30 million (£21 million plus nine million in add-ons) for the midfielder.
However, Manchester City fans are especially delighted about the fact that aside from a sell-on clause, there is also a buy-back clause in the deal that allows the club to potentially re-sign McAtee one day.
Man City fans delighted about buy-back clause in James McAtee to Nottingham Forest agreement
One fan believes that the buy-back and sell-on clauses are brilliant news for Manchester City while claiming that Nottingham Forest-bound McAtee does not impact games enough: “Good move for him. Strong negotiation from City to include both a sell-on and buy-back. I don’t think he influences games anywhere near enough at the moment to make it at City. Who knows in the future. Hope he does well!”
Another City supporter lauded the deal and sent the Englishman his best wishes, stating: “McAtee will do very well at Forest. Looks like a great deal for him and City. Really wanted him to succeed here but wasn’t meant to be (buy-back though). Wish him the best.”
A third Manchester City fan praised Hugo Viana for managing to ensure buy-back and sell-on clauses were inserted in Nottingham Forest’s deal to sign McAtee, as they wrote: “This is insane from Viana again. Top sale: “This is insane from Viana again. Top sale.”
A fourth supporter claimed that unlike Manchester City’s sale of Cole Palmer to Chelsea that did not include a buy-back, the deal involving his former Sky Blues teammate is a satisfactory one: “Clauses being there is at least a positive, not as bad as the Palmer deal.”
A fifth fan heaped praise on the deal as well, writing: “Sell on and buyback while fetching £30m is insane negotiating. Fair enough.”
Finally, a sixth Manchester City fan predicted McAtee to fare well in a Nottingham Forest shirt, stating: “Excellent business from City this! [It’s] Clear he’s not going to play that much [at City], goes to a good side, plays in Europe and a buy back clause is in place. Well played.”
All in all, the fans seem to be satisfied and are wishing their youth graduate becomes a star at the City Ground.
James Trafford’s James McAtee verdict could be a worry for Man City
Manchester City fans are perhaps also satisfied with McAtee’s imminent move to Nottingham Forest as they have plenty of attacking midfielders within their ranks.
Rayan Cherki, Phil Foden and Oscar Bobb have also shown that they can play out wide at a high level.
However, James Trafford claimed McAtee is “incredible” while naming his countryman in his all-time five-a-side team and perhaps City may regret letting him go if he has a similar impact at Forest as Palmer has had at Chelsea.
Trafford said: “I’ll go Macca, McAtee. I’ve got to put him in; he’s an incredible player, I grew up with him and a good friend.”
