Manchester United are interested in raiding local rivals Manchester City for one of their top academy products, according to reports, as the midfielder looks set to move after being left out of their Club World Cup squad.
It is expected to be a busy summer for United. In fact, they have already completed the signing of Matheus Cunha from Wolves after they triggered his £62.5 million release clause.
Ruben Amorim has been handed a transfer budget of a little less than £100 million, according to The Guardian, who claim the football department want the Portuguese head coach to strengthen in time for the new campaign.
With speculation rife over their next move, a report has emerged that suggests transfer target James McAtee has been left out of Manchester City's Club World Cup squad amid speculation surrounding his future at the Etihad.
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The Mirror claim United 'continue to circle' around a potential move for McAtee, just months after the Telegraph reported that United, Newcastle and AC Milan were monitoring developments around the 22-year-old.
"Selling direct to the Old Trafford outfit would prove a hugely controversial move, especially as McAtee is tipped to have a bright future," the report claims.
McAtee, who spent two seasons on loan at Sheffield United between 2022 and 2024, was very much a rotation player under Pep Guardiola in 2024/25, scoring seven goals in 27 games for the Citizens.
That being said, the midfielder has recently been added to England's Under 21s' pre-Euro training squad, which means he will not appear for City at the Club World Cup this summer – a move that "probably" signals the end of his time at Man City, according to The Mail's Jack Gaughan.
Back in December last year, Pep Guardiola admitted he had “unfairly” treated McAtee following a lack of first-team starts.
“It’s not a doubt – not because of the way we played but in the past. There are things that sometimes feel unfair,” he said.
“Sometimes in the situation you are living always you had the feeling to give the responsibility to the senior players rather than the young players, but sometimes the senior players have more pressure than the young ones who don’t have anything to defend. They want to conquer the world.”
Guardiola added: “He’s a player with a generation that we had in City that has been unbelievable – Romeo Lavia, Cole Palmer, Morgan Rogers, Liam Delap., Taylor Harwood-Bellis. They are incredible players and Macca has come from there and been captain of that generation.
“That’s why I said to Txiki [Begiristain], and I know it’s unfair to say [now] because ‘you asked him to stay and I didn’t give you the minutes you deserved’ so that’s fair enough but I always had the feeling he could play with us.”
With his current contract due to expire in 2026, McAtee's future remains unclear as City continue to be linked with the likes of Morgan Gibbs-White and Rayan Cherki. Thoughts on United's interest in the midfielder? Let us know in the comments.
Topics: Man Utd, Man City, Premier League, Transfers
Jack Kenmare