Manchester City starlet James McAtee is in reportedly talks with Championship side Sheffield United over a loan move, despite interest from Nottingham Forest among others.
Reports last week claimed that Forest were one of three Premier League clubs to show an interest in the teenager over the summer transfer window. Bournemouth, Leeds United and La Liga side Villarreal have all shown a ‘strong interest’ in the player.
But it now seems that he will be playing in the Championship next season. As reported by the Daily Mail , McAtee is ‘in talks’ over a loan move to Bramall Lane this season as he looks to gain more first team experience.
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It is said that the Blades ‘lead’ Forest, Bournemouth and Leeds in the race for the 19-year-old. Paul Heckingbottom’s side made an offer to the Premier League Champions at the start of this week with talks ongoing.
McAtee is one of the most highly-rated youngsters at Man City, the teenager signing a long-term contract extension earlier this year before being called up to the England U21 squad. The attacking midfielder made his senior debut last September, coming on in the 6-1 League Cup win over Wycombe.
His Premier League debut followed just a couple of months later when he came on as a late substitute in Man City’s 3-0 win vs Everton. Three more senior appearances came throughout the course of 2022.
It now seems that the youngster is heading out on a temporary deal in order to build up his minutes in senior football. It was said that the player would only be allowed to leave on loan if his playing time was ‘guaranteed’.
That therefore has given the edge to Sheffield United in the transfer race for the youngster. McAtee is likely to get more game time in the Championship than he would have done in the Premier League.
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