The future of one Manchester City playmaker appears to be up in the air although he has made an impact of late | OneFootball

One player who has had moments for Manchester City this season is young playmaker James McAtee. He showed during City’s 5-2 win over Crystal Palace on Saturday that when he is allowed to start he can play a role for Pep Guardiola’s side. McAtee scored City’s fourth goal at the Etihad, and his versatility and quality were a key element in Manchester City’s impressive win. But heading into the summer his future remains up in the air.

A new report from Jack Gaughan for the Daily Mail indicates that Nottingham Forest and Bayer Leverkusen have an interest in signing McAtee this summer. Furthermore, Gaughan reports that McAtee will be entering the final twelve months of his current contract this summer. The contract situation surrounding McAtee may be key in Manchester City’s decision to keep or sell the young playmaker this summer.

At times this season, James McAtee has made an impact for Manchester City. In 24 appearances this season he has scored 7 goals. That shows that McAtee can be a weapon for Pep Guardiola’s side. During the first half of the season especially, McAtee barely featured for Manchester City. If you were assessing his future at that point, the assumption would have been that McAtee appeared set to exit the club at the end of this season.

But McAtee has now shown that he can contribute to Pep Guardiola’s side. Although he can drift out of games he has the talent to play in the City first-team. Manchester City do need goalscorers and McAtee can do that. His versatility is also a key element to his game. That side of his game is also of immense value to Pep Guardiola’s side. Ahead of the summer, McAtee has shown he can be a part of Manchester City’s future.

James McAtee may have a choice to make if he wants to stay at Manchester City or seek more opportunities elsewhere.

This summer does loom as a critical juncture in James McAtee’s career. As mentioned above, he will only have twelve months left on his current contract with Manchester City. With Bayer Leverkusen and Nottingham Forest having an interest in signing him he could seek to play more often at either club. Although he has made 24 appearances this season, at times, he barely featured for Pep Guardiola’s side. At the midway point of this season, it appeared that McAtee was heading towards a summer exit. But that may have changed given his impressive performances over the past couple of months.

Who Manchester City sign this summer could also dictate McAtee’s future with the club. Who City sign remains to be seen. But it’s hard to see McAtee settling for another bit-part role in Pep Guardiola’s squad next season. He needs to be playing regularly to further his career. So, with all things considered, McAtee’s future remains up in the air. It is one story in a host of many to watch for this summer.

But McAtee has shown that he can contribute to Manchester City when given the opportunity. If nothing else is gained from this season for McAtee, that is something, and it may set him up for a big summer move if he does decide that his future lies away from the Etihad.