Tottenham step up transfer pursuit of £40 million-rated Manchester City midfielder | OneFootball

Manchester City may now be bracing themselves for intensified transfer interest from Tottenham regarding highly-rated midfielder James McAtee this summer.

The 22-year-old academy graduate has long been on the radar of several Premier League clubs following successful loan spells and glimpses of his potential under Pep Guardiola throughout the course of last season.

However, with first-team opportunities at Manchester City looking increasingly limited, and with a valuation of £40 million reportedly placed on his head, the summer transfer window could bring a turning point in McAtee’s career.

James McAtee spent two seasons on loan at Sheffield United and returned to Manchester City last term, where his role was primarily restricted to training with the first team and playing limited minutes across competitions.

City have opened themselves up to a sale if the right proposal arrives, especially if a buy-back clause or significant sell-on percentage can be retained as part of the deal – a familiar approach adopted in deals for the likes of Liam Delap and James Trafford in recent years.

City are conscious of the growing interest in McAtee and are already navigating a busy summer of outgoings. Midfield reinforcements like Tijjani Reijnders and Rayan Cherki have added to the competition, while the presence of Phil Foden and Nico Gonzalez leaves little room for younger prospects to break through consistently.

Now, according to the information of TBR Football’s Graeme Bailey and Jamie Brown, James McAtee has emerged as one of the leading candidates for Tottenham to replace James Maddison after the 28-year-old’s ACL injury sustained during pre-season.

It is detailed that work is underway to understand the conditions for the deal, and Tottenham have held fresh talks with Manchester City over the possibility of signing McAtee – valued by his current club at around £40 million.

During talks with officials from the Etihad Stadium over McAtee, the report claims that Jack Grealish is another player Tottenham had asked about, although Everton are leading the race to sign the player at present.

Manchester City have already rejected an offer in the region of £25 million from Nottingham Forest earlier this summer, and City Ground officials are believed to retain confidence over their chances of signing the player before the window shuts.

Tottenham’s interest in McAtee comes at a critical time for new manager Thomas Frank, who is expected to be without Maddison for the majority of the upcoming season, now exploring options who can bring energy, versatility, and Premier League experience.

Despite his limited top-flight exposure, James McAtee has demonstrated comfort in possession, tactical flexibility, and a willingness to press, while also impressing onlookers during England Under-21s’ recent European Championship triumph.

As for Manchester City, while their stance on McAtee’s future has always been flexible, there is a clear desire to retain control over the player’s trajectory in the long term. A deal structured with a buy-back clause could serve all parties, allowing the player regular top-flight football while ensuring City have a route back should he fulfil his potential elsewhere.