Man City youngster attracts interest as summer move remains possible | OneFootball

Bayer Leverkusen Maintain Interest in Man City Midfielder Amid Managerial Wait

Bundesliga interest builds in McAtee

Manchester City midfielder James McAtee is drawing renewed attention from Bundesliga sides, with Bayer Leverkusen still keeping close tabs on the 21-year-old, according to Florian Plettenberg. Several German clubs have made enquiries, although any formal approach from Leverkusen appears to hinge on the club confirming a new manager.

A permanent departure from the Etihad remains a realistic outcome this summer. McAtee, who spent the season on loan at Sheffield United, has attracted interest from multiple Premier League clubs as well, with his development now at a critical crossroads.

“James McAtee has received several enquiries from the Bundesliga – with Bayer 04 Leverkusen still keen on him,” Plettenberg reports. “A departure from Manchester City remains possible.”

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At a club as stacked with talent as City, opportunities for young midfielders remain limited, making this a pivotal window for McAtee’s future.

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While all attention often gravitates towards marquee signings and immediate title charges, the long-term health of a squad depends on what happens to its academy products. McAtee, long spoken of as a future first-team regular, has shown glimpses of the composure and creativity that Guardiola prizes in midfielders.

His time at Sheffield United may not have grabbed headlines, but it was valuable. He played in a struggling side, saw the Premier League at its toughest, and emerged with important experience. Now, as Leverkusen and other Bundesliga clubs line up, the question is simple: do City truly believe in his long-term role, or is this another talent set to slip through the cracks?

Letting McAtee go permanently, especially to a team as progressive and tactically sharp as Leverkusen, could come back to haunt City. Florian Wirtz developed there. So did Moussa Diaby. If McAtee flourishes in a freer system abroad, City may all look back on this as a missed opportunity to cultivate from within rather than buy from without.

This might not make the front page. But it’s a decision that speaks volumes about Manchester City’s approach to youth, patience, and long-term vision.