The hierarchy at Manchester City have been very busy during the opening phase of the 2025 summer transfer window.
With the Premier League club set to begin their FIFA Club World Cup campaign against Wydad AC on June 18, Pep Guardiola was keen to add four to five new faces to his squad, and Hugo Viana has delivered the legendary coach exactly that.
There will also need to be exits over the coming weeks at the Etihad Stadium, with the future of Jack Grealish up in the air, in addition to the likes of Ederson, Ilkay Gundogan, Kyle Walker, and Bernardo Silva.
One player in Guardiola’s squad is certain to leave, but the star has one less club to choose from this summer as Bayer Leverkusen have pulled out of the race after holding strong interest for months.
Photo by PAUL ELLIS/AFP via Getty Images
Photo by PAUL ELLIS/AFP via Getty Images
Bayer Leverkusen no longer interested in James McAtee
James McAtee is certain to leave Man City this summer after the midfielder decided not to travel with the Manchester club to the FIFA Club World Cup in order to represent England at the UEFA European Under-21 Championship this summer.
Many clubs are showing interest in the Englishman, and it was reported last month that new Bayer Leverkusen manager Erik ten Hag is a big fan of McAtee, which coincided with the Bundesliga club’s long-term interest in the 22-year-old; however, that has now cooled.
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According to BILD, Leverkusen are now unlikely to make a move for McAtee as the German club continues to search for Florian Wirtz’s replacement.
McAtee is still very keen on a move to the Bundesliga this summer, as Stuttgart, RB Leipzig, Eintracht Frankfurt, and Borussia Dortmund all remain keen on the Man City star.
English clubs are also there, but it is being said that the midfielder likes the idea of playing in Germany, which will also offer him Champions League football.
Bayer Leverkusen were also linked with Jack Grealish recently, and BILD have now cleared up just how serious the German club are about the English winger.
Photo by Neal Simpson/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images
Photo by Neal Simpson/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images
No chance Jack Grealish moves to Bayer Leverkusen
Like McAtee, Jack Grealish has decided to leave Man City ahead of the 2025/26 campaign, but the winger’s exit is more complicated.
Man City want £50m for Grealish this summer, while the 29-year-old’s £300,000-a-week wages are a problem for many clubs, including Bayer Leverkusen.
Season Games Goals Assists Minutes
24/25 32 3 5 1521
23/24 36 3 3 2114
22/23 50 5 11 3487
21/22 39 6 4 2730
Jack Grealish’s career at Man City
According to BILD, a move to Leverkusen for Grealish is out of the question, despite reports within British media that the Bundesliga club are interested in the Man City winger.
It remains to be seen where the Englishman will be playing his football during the 2025/26 campaign, but it needs to be a club where the winger gets minutes, as that is key to the Man City star if he wants to play for England at the 2026 World Cup.