Manchester United is reportedly investigating the possibility of signing Manchester City midfielder James McAtee, according to The Telegraph.
Man City Star is a versatile player who can play behind midfielders, wingers and strikers.
His tactical flexibility is a key asset in Amorim’s preferred 3-4-2-1 formation, providing depth and dynamism in his sophisticated midfield role.
The 22-year-old has scored seven goals for the Pep Guardiola side in 25 appearances in all competitions this season.
McAtee, England Youth International, has limited opportunities at Etihad Stadium and only has one year left on his current contract.
Guardiola has publicly praised McAtee’s technical skills and offensive intelligence, but the Man City boss may have no choice but to sanction sales to avoid losing players on the 2026 free transfer.
Guardiola describes the Man City youth as “special players,” but the Spaniard couldn’t give him enough playing time at the club.
Man United is not alone in their pursuits. Newcastle United, AC Milan, Nottingham Forest and Bayer Leverkoussen are also reportedly closely monitoring the situation in McAtee.
Is Man City planning to consider selling to Man United?
However, given the competition between Man United and Man City, securing McAtee’s signature could prove challenging.
City may be reluctant to bolster their direct competitors and may prefer to sell McAtee to clubs outside the Premier League or to teams with less direct competition.
United’s interest appears authentic, but the outcome could depend on Crosstown rivals and the city’s willingness to negotiate with McKaty’s desire for regular playing time and career development.
The Manchester Club is also participating during the transfer period this summer. Guardiola’s team won a race against Amorim to sign Porto goalkeeper Diogo Costa.
Man City was able to launch a big buck to sign Newcastle Star