Wolverhampton Wanderers have reportedly identified Manchester City playmaker James McAtee as a potential summer transfer target.
For the first time in his career, the academy graduate has been viewed as someone who can earn regular minutes in Pep Guardiola‘s first-team squad.
However, as well as making only nine starts and 18 substitute outings in all competitions during 2024-25, McAtee was left out of the plans for the FA Cup final earlier this month.
At a time when Guardiola has publicly insisted that his squad must be reduced once the market reopens in June, a player such as McAtee – whose contract expires in 2026 – is a prime candidate to depart the Etihad Stadium.
According to Birmingham World, Wolves intend to involve themselves in the hotly-contested race for the 22-year-old.
Head coach Vitor Pereira is facing the likelihood of Matheus Cunha being sold in a £62.5m deal and Pablo Sarabia departing on a free transfer.
As such, there will be funds available in terms of fees and wages for notable additions to be made for the final third, McAtee seemingly one of the names on Wolves’ radar.
McAtee has been a target of Wolves for some time and it is alleged that the view behind the scenes is that he has the potential to be a regular starter, presumably as one of Pereira’s two creative midfielders behind a centre-forward.
While much may depend on City’s valuation, they will need to be realistic given McAtee’s contractual situation and the benefits that come with selling a homegrown talent over risking losing him on a free transfer.
An asking price of £25m has been indicated, yet that could fluctuate higher or lower depending on the bidding war that is expected to ensue.
McAtee wanted by an array of clubs
Since the winter, varying reports at different times have linked a wide array of clubs with a summer move for the England Under-21 international.
Newcastle United, Nottingham Forest, Crystal Palace, West Ham United and Leeds United are all said to be admirers.
Furthermore, there is said to be plenty of interest on the continent with Bayer Leverkusen, Borussia Dortmund, RB Leipzig, Bologna and Fiorentina all said to be monitoring the situation.
Securing regular starts is likely to be McAtee’s priority at this stage of his career. That is something that has only been achieved during two years on loan at Sheffield United, one of those seasons coming in the Championship.
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