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View: Why everyone wants to sign Manchester City talent James McAtee
Manchester City wonderkid James McAtee is the man in demand at the Etihad but why are clubs pining to sign the teenager on loan this summer?
The 19-year-old is one of the Premier League’s hottest youth prospects and his sky-high potential is one of the worst kept secrets in the division.
It has now been reported that the Citizens may now be open to listening to loan offers for the midfielder from Salford, as the interest in him has been so intense [The Athletic].
The Athletic’s City reporter, Sam Lee said: “McAtee is attracting so much interest from Premier League, La Liga and Eredivisie clubs that he may be allowed to leave on loan this summer.
“Clubs including Leicester City, Leeds United, Brighton, Southampton and Aston Villa had been chasing McAtee, 19, before he signed a new contract at City earlier this year.”
Why does everyone want McAtee?
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McAtee has said his favourite player was Spanish playmaker, David Silva, and it is very clear to see how his admiration for the Premier League legend has rubbed off on his own game.
Like Silva, McAtee is a traditional number 10, known for his elegance in possession and silky dribbling skills. Traits that his manager Pep Guardiola is known to love in his players.
The Man City youth product excels in the tight pockets of space between the opposition midfield and defence, and either dribbles through impossibly small areas or plays cute through-balls to create mayhem for defences and opportunities for attacks.
In addition to the six appearances McAtee has made for the senior team, the teenager has made 87 appearances for Man City’s various youth teams, scoring 44 goals and providing 27 assists during that time, which is an absurd rate of a goal or assist almost every game.
It is evidently clear that youth football is beneath him now, and he is ready to get a taste of consistent men’s games, and no wonder clubs are lining up around the world to give McAtee the chance to do that at their stadiums.
Whichever team does land the teenage sensation should be prepared to witness some playmaking mastery as well as a standing 450-degree flip every now and then.
In other Man City news, Liam Delap could be on his way to Southampton.