Leeds United In The Mix For This Nottingham Forest Star: Why They Must Not Give Up The Chase | OneFootball

If a recent report from The Daily Mail is believed to be true, Leeds United are among a host of clubs to keep close tabs on James McAtee. But they are not alone in the hunt with fellow Premier League rivals Chelsea, Bournemouth, Sunderland and Fulham, as well as the likes of Stuttgart, Red Bull Leipzig, Bayer Leverkusen and Eintracht Frankfurt from the Bundesliga, Porto and PSV Eindhoven also in the mix for the Nottingham Forest attacking ace.

The 23-year-old former England U21 skipper completed a high-profile £30m move to Forest in August after flourishing through the esteemed academy ranks of Manchester City.

A couple of successive loan spells with Sheffield United helped him excel in senior football; however, the lack of first-team involvement in a star-studded City side led to his summer exit, with a view to attaining regular gametime.

But it has not worked out yet for the youngster, having featured only 10 times across competitions. Forest are battling for survival under Sean Dyche following the dismissals of Nuno Espirito Santo and Ange Postecoglou, and the English boss, despite holding McAtee in high regard, has primarily deployed him in their UEFA Europa League fixtures.

TRNAVA, SLOVAKIA – JUNE 21: James McAtee of U21 England in action against Cesar Tarrega of U21 Spain during the UEFA European Under-21 Championship 2025 Quarter-Final match between Spain and England at A. Malatinsky Stadium on June 21, 2025 in Trnava, Slovakia. (Photo by Christian Hofer/Getty Images)

The versatile attacker has struggled to fit in Dyche’s brand of direct football, and a winter loan could be the best possible deal for all parties involved.

Why McAtee Would Fit In The Current Leeds United Side

Leeds United have fought back since shifting to a ‘back three’ setup. Daniel Farke has found the right balance between defence, midfield and attack, but the lack of depth in various spots could haunt them at the backend of the season.

They missed out on Fulham’s Harry Wilson late in the summer window, yet the hunt is on for a hybrid ‘number 10’ and winger, who would offer creativity in and around the attacking third.

Although the Whites have relied on Brenden Aaronson as a midfield attacker, the lack of consistency remains a concern for the USMNT playmaker. He was also utilised from the right-hand flank amid injuries to first-team forwards. But the current 3-5-2 system demands someone with fluidity and flexibility in midfield and up top.

McAtee would also slot in as a central midfielder alongside Ethan Ampadu and Anton Stach, but could help Farke switch to a 3-4-3 or 3-4-1-2, demonstrating the player’s ability to adapt to various roles during a game. A move to Leeds should see him get the nod over Aaronson, and it remains to be seen whether the Yorkshire giants win the race if Forest sanctions his January exit.