It has been reported that Manchester City will refuse to send James McAtee on loan, if Bernardo Silva ends up leaving.
This comes from journalist Alan Nixon on Patreon, after it was claimed a month ago that Pep Guardiola was considering handing the ‘Salford Silva’ first-team opportunities next season.
Well, if Bernardo Silva does leave Manchester City, James McAtee could be the player to take his place in the side.
Manchester City may have earmarked James McAtee as Bernardo Silva replacement
Branded as a ‘special player’ by Pep Guardiola via Manchester Evening News, the 20-year-old had one hell of a loan stint at Sheffield United.
Considering the English midfielder has always been hailed as a one-of-a-kind talent, it was exciting from a Sky Blues perspective to have proven that the hype around his name has always been justified.
But now, as Bernardo Silva continues to be linked with an exit, Manchester City have decided to ‘put off’ any inquiries regarding loan moves for James McAtee.
Unless the Portuguese international’s future is decided, the club will prioritise keeping McAtee at the Etihad Stadium, as prematurely sending him on loan whilst losing the former later into the window could prove to be a disastrous decision.
Huge show of faith in James McAtee
In one way, it has been implied that Manchester City trust James McAtee to succeed the decorated midfielder, in the event that his potential exit materialises.
Especially after having won the treble, the general consensus would be that Pep Guardiola’s men would simply go out and splash the cash on a world-class replacement for the ex-Monaco attacker.
However, the Sky Blues are clearly huge admirers of McAtee’s talent and seem to trust him to at least play a part in replacing the exit-linked Silva.
It’s hard not to agree with the club as James McAtee is well and truly a prospect whose ceiling is limitless.
