Manchester City's Plan For James McAtee Next Season Revealed

The plans for James McAtee at Manchester City during the forthcoming season have been detailed, amid intense transfer talks concerning the player.

The highly-rated 19 year-old playmaker has been linked with a multitude of moves across the United Kingdom.

This comes after yet another stellar season for Manchester City's ever-impressive youth ranks across the previous campaign.

Across the entirety of the 2021/22 season, James McAtee scored a staggering 23 goals, alongside a further eight assist in 34 appearances in all competitions.

This gave the England youth international a sensational ratio of registering a goal contribution every 82 minutes.

As a reward for his efforts in the Premier League 2 division alone, James McAtee was named as the Player of the Season for the 2021/22 campaign.

Given his performances, the teenager has attracted widespread interest this summer over a variety of season-long loan options, in the Premier League, Championship, and the Scottish Premier League.

The likes of Brighton, Leeds United, Swansea, and Rangers have all shown a keen interest in the player.

A recent report specified Championship outfit Huddersfield Town as being in pole position to secure the talent on a temporary basis, should Manchester City sanction a deal for McAtee this summer.

However, in a blow to those interested, the plans over at the Etihad Stadium appear to signal further involvement in Pep Guardiola's first-team squad during the upcoming season.

According to Sam Lee of The Athletic, James McAtee is expected to take on the minutes that Cole Palmer provided last season - with the latter expected to take on further responsibility should Raheem Sterling complete his move to Chelsea in the coming days.

It is pointed out within the same report that should this prove to be the case, then it would represent the pathway that McAtee was promised when he signed a new contract earlier this year.

The Athletic reaffirms that a number of clubs want to sign the 19 year-old either permanently or on loan this summer, but the player is hoping to kick on at Manchester City over the course of the next 12 months.

Elsewhere on the young talents scene at the Etihad Stadium, the ongoing summer window has so far proven to be one of significant change for players.

The likes of Gavin Bazunu, Romeo Lavia, Samuel Edozie, and CJ Egan-Riley have all either completed or are set to finalise permanent moves away from the City Football Academy.

While this may ring alarm bells for some onlookers, City officials have been wise to include positive clauses into the various deals, that would allow the Premier League champions to re-sign any talents in the future, should they progress to the level required.