West Ham have a very long shortlist (!)of summer targets. Most of them are young, relatively inexpensive and on an upward trajectory in their career but not yet at the top. If you can call £25 million ‘relatively inexpensive’: With Liverpool contemplating blowing £110 million on Florian Wirtz I guess £25 million seems small change.
James McAtee, reportedly on the ‘shopping list’ of twenty clubs this summer, has long been a West Ham target: After deciding to stay at Manchester and fight for his place last winter it seems the 22 years old has finally worked out that Guardiola has no plans for him. Todays dailymail.co.uk reports that McAtee:
“Will link up with England’s Under 21s for the European Championship instead of going to the Club World Cup. The decision all but signifies the end of McAtee’s time at City, whom he scored seven goals in 26 appearances for this year. A host of Bundesliga teams, including Frankfurt, Stuttgart and Bayer Leverkusen, are interested in the attacking midfielder. Nottingham Forest and West Ham have also been admirers of McAtee, with Everton thought to have made checks on the player.”
Most Read on West Ham News
McAtee – moving away from Man City?
The only advantage West Ham have to tip the scales in their favour will be very clear if Lucas Paquetá’s FA enquiry verdict – due out in June – goes in the Brazilian’s favour. Guardiola is still known to hanker after Paquetá’s signature and the Hammers will have to hope that McAtee could be brought to Stratford as part of a deal to get Paquetá his dream move to the Etihad. Two years late.