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Topics: James McAtee, Manchester City, Manchester City Transfer News & Rumours, Premier League, Transfers, Transfer News
John McDougall
Topics: James McAtee, Manchester City, Manchester City Transfer News & Rumours, Premier League, Transfers, Transfer News
Manchester City are in the midst of their biggest crisis under Pep Guardiola and could be about to lose one of their promising young stars in January as several sides in the Premier League and beyond chase his signature.
City have won just one game in their last 13 across all competitions in their worst form since Guardiola joined the club back in 2016.
In their most recent encounter on Boxing Day, City drew 1-1 with Everton at the Etihad Stadium after Bernardo Silva's opener was cancelled out by Iliman Ndiaye's strike.
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Erling Haaland had the chance to net what could have been the winner from the penalty spot, but his poor effort was saved by Jordan Pickford as the spoils were shared.
City now sit seventh in the Premier League table and are 14 points behind leaders Liverpool, as it appears the defence of their Premier League crown after four successive successful campaigns is almost certainly at an end, with Arne Slot's side also having a game in hand on Guardiola's side.
City return to action tomorrow when they face Leicester at the King Power Stadium.
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The game will be the last of 2024 and when City are next in action after that, the January transfer window will have opened for business.
Speculation surrounds the City squad and which players could come and go either next month or following the end of this season.
One player who could be on their way out of the Etihad Stadium next month is James McAtee.
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According to a report by the Daily Telegraph, the 22-year-old is believes to be seeking regular playing time and a move away from City owing to limited opportunities this campaign.
McAtee has made eight appearances across all competitions for the blue half of Manchester this season and scored once, but only appeared twice off the bench in the Premier League.
Though City and Guardiola are reported to still be keen on McAtee and hold him in high regard, the player wants to play more regularly ahead of the European Under-21 Championship this summer with England.
The Premier League clubs understood to be eyeing McAtee including West Ham United, Brentford, Nottingham Forest and Crystal Palace, as well as German sides Borussia Dortmund, RB Leipzig and Bayer Leverkusen, plus Italian outfits Bologna and Fiorentina.
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McAtee's contract has 18 months left to run on it, so next month or next summer is the last realistic chance City would have to command a sizeable transfer fee for their academy product's services.