Rangers are reportedly chasing James McAtee on loan before the January transfer window closes, with manager Giovanni van Bronckhorst keeping his cards close to his chest when asked about the Manchester City attacker.
City had indicated that players like McAtee wouldn't be leaving on loan, with Pep Guardiola saying in December that the group of talented academy players that regularly feature in first-team training will remain at the club.
Guardiola said: "They'll stay here. We don't have loans and we need them. Development at the moment is to show they can play every week. We try to let them improve in the way we believe.
"As managers maybe they should go, go the way they want to play. They can do it in the second team but they aren't strong enough in the competition to make the step.
"They are training with the first team, the competition is so high, the quality, the rhythm. That's why it's good to stay with us."
City have rearranged loans for academy players like Taylor Harwood-Bellis, Tommy Doyle, James Trafford — Morgan Rogers could soon join that list after being recalled from Bournemouth — while under-23 coach Brian Barry-Murphy has also suggested there will be little movement of his academy players this month.
That would seemingly include McAtee, who has 19 goals and five assists in 20 academy appearances this season as well as three senior outings. However, that form has unsurprisingly caught the eye of a number of clubs, with a report in the Telegraph suggesting Rangers, Swansea and QPR have enquired about the possibility of taking McAtee on loan this month.
With Rangers able to offer European football and an Scottish Premiership title race, it could be a tempting offer for City and McAtee, and their manager Van Bronckhorst has refused to confirm or deny they are interested in the 19-year-old.
"We spoke with many possibilities we want to add and so far I don’t have any news other than Amad [Diallo, from Manchester United] joining us.
"We’re still open and have to be ready for the remainder of the next days but I won’t confirm or talk about other names than what we have here and what we have signed."
McAtee is out of contract at City in 2023, with his form leading to speculation he could leave permanently in the next 18 months if he doesn't sign a new contract.
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