Chelsea and several other teams are reportedly keeping tabs on Manchester City midfielder James McAtee.
The 21-year-old spent last season out on loan at Sheffield United, with manager Pep Guardiola not deeming him ready for the first team.
McAtee will be part of the club’s US tour but, if he doesn’t impress Guardiola, there is a possibility that he could leave the Etihad on a permanent basis. The majority of fans on X are keen to keep hold of the player, with some fearing a repeat of what happened with Cole Palmer:
Please keep him
— Dinai (@TheKingofKippax) July 2, 2024
Chelsea’s obsession with city players is getting out of hand
— SEILESSTAY💤 (@seilesstay) July 2, 2024
We do not want to do another Palmer
— HNDRXX (@mrafiu1000) July 2, 2024
How many times we gonna do this man he’s not gonna be good enough and gonna get loaned out again and the cycle repeats lol
— 𝕶𝖎𝖗𝖇𝖘 (@BasedKirby) July 2, 2024
So basically now or never for him
— Mcfc_Frank🇧🇼 (@loyal_cityzen) July 2, 2024
KEEP HIM PLEASE
— Jake Pritchard (@JakePritchardFC) July 2, 2024
Pls stay 😭😭
— angelina (@angelinabtss) July 2, 2024
City need to show McAtee that he has a future at the club
It was reported that Palmer’s decision to depart last summer was motivated by the belief that he wouldn’t get enough minutes if he stayed with the Cityzens.
He is thought to have rejected another loan move in order to leave on a permanent basis. The decision ended up being the right one based on his first season at Chelsea.
To avoid the same thing happening with McAtee, the midfielder must feel that he will get opportunities to play. Of course, he needs to earn his spot so that’s why the tour of the United States is so important.
Who will City face on their pre-season tour?
The Premier League champions play Celtic at Kenan Stadium, North Carolina on July 23rd, before facing AC Milan at Yankee Stadium in New York City four days later.
They finish their tour of the US by taking on Barcelona at the Camping World Stadium in Orlando on July 30th.
