Despite offers worth £30 million coming in for James McAtee, it has been reported that Manchester City have no intention to sell him.
This comes from Manchester Evening News journalist Simon Bajkowski, as the 20-year-old has returned to his parent club after a fruitful season-long loan stint at Sheffield United.
Now, it seems like Manchester City aim to keep James McAtee at all costs, with a report in June claiming that Pep Guardiola was keen on making him a regular first-team player in the 2023/2024 campaign.
Manchester City have no plans to sanction James McAtee transfer despite £30 million offers
Branded as a ‘special player’ by the Catalan boss via Manchester Evening News, the 20-year-old is a highly-rated prospect, often compared to David Silva.
Much like the Spanish legend, the Salford-born and bred youngster is an immensely technically gifted left-footed central midfielder, blessed with an eye for a pass and the ability to glide past opponents.
Now, it has been reported that a number of clubs in the Premier League and the Bundesliga had offered to sign James McAtee on Manchester City on either a loan or a permanent basis.
In fact, some suitors were willing to pay as much as £30 million just to secure the graceful midfielder’s services.
However, the Sky Blues are set to integrate McAtee’s character into the first-team on a more serious basis, with Guardiola and the higher-ups impressed by how he managed to turn things around at Sheffield after a tough start to life on loan.
Furthermore, after injuring his ankle, James McAtee has been doing double sessions with a fitness and a training coach in order to return fit and firing for Manchester City on pre-season on Monday, before their tour begins.
James McAtee could be used in the Ilkay Gundogan role
While one expects Manchester City attacker Phil Foden to succeed Ilkay Gundogan as his side’s left-sided advanced midfielder, James McAtee could be tasked to play that same role.
After all, losing a player of Gundogan’s intelligence, experience and quality is far from an easy job and one expects Foden not to fully master the role in his absence instantly.
However, McAtee, who much like the German is also adept at controlling games could be tailor-made to replicate his qualities, albeit on a rotational basis.
That is perhaps one key reason why City have especially been against the idea of his sale.
