Manchester City’s squad depth is among the best in the world in every area of the pitch.
While Bernardo Silva likes Manchester City having a “big squad”, Pep Guardiola admitted that the ideal scenario for him would be that the size of the roster at his disposal is reduced.
The Daily Mail have now reported that one player who is set to depart City in the summer is James McAtee, who is valued in excess of £25 million.
Bundesliga clubs like Bayer Leverkusen admire McAtee alongside the likes of Borussia Dortmund, Stuttgart, RB Leipzig and Eintracht Frankfurt but City will only let him go if the buying club allows the insertion of a buyback clause in the deal.
While Manchester City hold the 22-year-old dear to their hearts, they believe it is the right time for him to depart this summer.
- READ MORE: James McAtee names a Chelsea star he speaks to ‘every day’ amid Manchester City uncertainty
Man City fans are on board with James McAtee being set for exit
One Manchester City fan believes that with how many midfielders Pep Guardiola has at his disposal, they have no choice but to sell McAtee: “Living in a fantasy world if you’re shocked or outraged by this, we have a stacked attack and he’s not better than any of our current midfielders.”
A second supporter is on board with the reported deal, simply writing: “Makes sense. He will be class over there. Buyback would be great business.”
A third Manchester City believes that a potential deal involving McAtee is good news for all parties involved: “Unfortunate, but the right move for both parties. He can grow and develop as a player, at a club that won’t likely affect City and if we want him back we can activate that option. I’m sure he’ll succeed wherever he goes, just at City he won’t get the chances he needs to excel.”
Another City supporter claimed that the youngster’s decision of leaving the Etihad Stadium to join Sheffield United damaged his chances of becoming a starter, claiming that it is the right time to move him on now: “Yep, to be expected. In reality, his City career was done when he opted to take the easy option of going back to Sheffield United and getting beaten every week. Essentially wasted a year of his career. Think he’ll do alright in the Bundesliga.”
A fifth fan believes the Sky Blues will not even activate a buyback clause for the youngster and instead, inserting a sell-on clause would suit them far more: “Pointless including a buyback, he is 22 and clearly not good enough to make it at City. 100% sale and maximise the price, 20% sell on.”
Finally, a sixth Manchester City fan sent McAtee his best wishes by predicting him to take the Bundesliga by storm: “Five top teams for him, fair, man, he deserves a good club and he will definitely smash it there. Probably will be a 10-12 goals per season player easily.”
McAtee shone for England’s Under-21 side and he could become a star in Germany, even if his dream of becoming a starter at City will no longer will be fulfilled.
Pep Guardiola has the next James McAtee on his hands
However, some City supporters would be wondering which player could take his place in the squad.
Manchester City fans will be delighted to discover that Pep Guardiola is a huge fan of Claudio Echeverri, who is also a number 10 like McAtee and is similarly talented enough to become a top player one day.
With Stefan Ortega comparing Echeverri to Julian Alvarez, he seems to have already turned heads behind closed doors.
