Changes are coming to Manchester City’s midfield this summer.
This area of the pitch is set to be at the heart of Pep Guardiola’s rebuild at the Manchester club ahead of the 2025/26 campaign, with the legendary coach hoping for similar success to Liverpool when the Merseyside club changed their entire midfield three during the summer of 2023.
Man City are closing in on AC Milan’s Tijjani Reijnders, while Guardiola is keen to add Rayan Cherki to his squad, with Nottingham Forest’s Morgan Gibbs-White being another number 10 the Manchester club are interested in.
Should all three arrive, this would likely result in exits at the Etihad Stadium, and the latest news suggests a decision has been made to let one player leave.
Photo by Visionhaus/Getty Images
Photo by Visionhaus/Getty Images
James McAtee will not travel to the FIFA Club World Cup
Guardiola has admitted that he is keen to keep James McAtee at Man City for the 2025/26 campaign, but the midfielder will want more minutes next season, as it is now crucial for the 22-year-old to be playing regularly to develop further.
England are competing in the UEFA European Under-21 Championship this summer, and it is being reported by Jack Gaughan that McAtee has been added to the squad by Lee Carsley, which means the midfielder will not be going to the FIFA Club World Cup with Man City.
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The tournament gets underway on June 11, and with Man City set to play Wydad AC on June 18, this indicates that the 22-year-old’s career in Manchester is set to come to an end.
Man City fans have not been too happy with McAtee this season, who has featured for Guardiola’s team on 27 occasions.
Several clubs are showing interest in the English midfielder, and the team the City star chooses to join next is crucial, as it could set up the rest of his career.
Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images
Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images
What clubs are looking to sign James McAtee
Nottingham Forest are one club interested in signing McAtee this summer, who can be acquired for a transfer fee of around £25m.
The Premier League club are joined by Leeds United in the race for the Man City star, with both being the two main parties showing interest in the 22-year-old from the English top flight.
Season Games Goals Assists Minutes
24/25 (Man City) 27 7 0 936
23/24 (Man City & Sheffield United) 33 5 4 1945
22/23 (Sheffield United in the Championship) 43 9 4 2372
James McAtee’s stats for the last three seasons
As for clubs abroad, Celtic and Rangers are keeping an eye on the Englishman’s situation, while Bayer Leverkusen are keen on McAtee, in addition to the likes of Atalanta and Marseille.
McAtee has options should he leave Man City this summer, and having already shown that he is capable of playing at Premier League level, one club could be about to get a great deal if they can land the midfielder for £25m or less.