Pep Guardiola has already suggested that stuttering champions Manchester City could dip into the transfer market this January but sales could also be on the agenda for the side
Manchester City could cash in on yet ANOTHER academy star despite their Cole Palmer regret.
The reigning Premier League champions have raked in lucrative amounts for their homegrown stars over recent years – Palmer, Taylor Harwood-Bellis and Liam Delap earning them millions. And while Palmer’s £42.5m move to Chelsea looks somewhat misguided at this stage, that has not put City off from selling their brightest young stars.
Midfielder James McAtee could potentially be the next to bid farewell to the Etihad Stadium. The midfielder, 22, began his professional career with City and has gone on to make 15 first-team appearances.
McAtee has also impressed in two loan stints with Sheffield United, at first helping the Blades to promotion before their return to the Championship last term. And he could now be on the move permanently.
As per MailOnline, a number of clubs are keeping tabs on the young midfielder as he reaches the last 18 months of his deal. As of yet, City are yet to engage in any new talks regarding an extended contract.
Bayer Leverkusen are reportedly emerging as one of the favourites for his signature, while Red Bull Leipzig, Borussia Dortmund, Bologna and Fiorentina are admirers. There is also interest in the Premier League from Nottingham Forest, West Ham, Brentford and Crystal Palace.
McAtee shone in his most recent appearance for City as they saw off Leicester 2-0, and boss Pep Guardiola was full of praise. He said: “He’s a player from a generation we had at Manchester City that’s been unbelievable; Romeo Lavia, Cole Palmer, Morgan Rogers, Liam Delap, Taylor Harwood-Bellis… Incredible, incredible players came from there, and Macca is one of this generation. He was captain of this generation.
“That’s why, when I said to Txiki (Begiristain), and I know it’s unfair to say [now] because, ‘Ah you asked him to stay, after you didn’t give him minutes he deserved’, that’s fair. It’s right! But always I had the feeling that guy could play with us. He could play.