Bundesliga Side Pushing to Sign £25million Manchester City Star

Yahoo

14 hours ago

Bayer Leverkusen Eyeing Manchester City Star in Potential Summer Swoop
Bayer Leverkusen are reportedly preparing an offer for Manchester City's highly-rated youngster James McAtee, according to Sky Sports News. As per reporting from Amar Mehta and Lyall Thomas, Leverkusen's interest in McAtee is concrete, though no formal bid could be tabled before the close of the most recent transfer window.
Advertisement
The 22-year-old midfielder, currently captaining the England Under-21 side during their matches in Slovakia, has become a notable figure in Manchester City's youth structure. His performances for both club and country have not gone unnoticed, and Leverkusen's interest reflects a broader trend of top European sides targeting Premier League academy graduates.
A move, however, is not imminent. It cannot progress until McAtee's international duties and the upcoming Club World Cup have concluded. As the report states, 'An offer could not be made in the first window, which closed on Tuesday.' This leaves City with ample time to evaluate their options and the true valuation of one of their promising assets.
Photo: IMAGO
City Set Steep Price Tag Amid Growing Interest
City have reportedly placed a valuation of 'in excess of £25m plus add-ons' on McAtee, though some sources believe that figure could rise even higher. In context, this puts him in similar territory to fellow City academy graduate Cole Palmer, who was sold to Chelsea for £40m.
Advertisement
While Palmer's rise and value spike are significant, McAtee offers a slightly different profile. He is more central in nature, combining creativity with directness and composure in possession. The question many fans and analysts are now asking is whether Manchester City will allow another homegrown talent to depart before he's had a proper chance in the first team.
This isn't the first time Leverkusen have tapped into the Premier League pipeline, and their ability to offer meaningful minutes and exposure in a top European league has become an attractive proposition for emerging English talent.
McAtee Keen on Bundesliga Adventure
The key revelation from Sky Sports is that McAtee is 'understood to be keen to join Leverkusen if the clubs can come to an agreement.' That level of player interest could accelerate talks once formal negotiations begin. In the modern transfer market, player intention carries significant weight, and with McAtee evidently open to the move, Manchester City must weigh the short-term benefits of a sizeable fee against the long-term regret of losing another gem.
Advertisement
Leverkusen's appeal is multi-faceted. With Champions League football now a regular prospect at the BayArena, the stage could be set for him to flourish.
What City's Transfer Strategy Says About McAtee's Future
There's no doubt Manchester City have a blueprint for academy development, but selling talents like Palmer and potentially McAtee raises questions about their long-term integration plans. Are these players being nurtured for first-team action, or groomed for profit?
While McAtee has featured for City at senior level, consistent minutes have proven elusive. Loan spells have offered glimpses of his potential, but for a player of his quality, the next step must be decisive.
Advertisement
If Leverkusen are willing to meet City's valuation, this could be one of the most notable outbound transfers of the summer. With the Premier League becoming increasingly ruthless at the top end, Manchester City may regret letting another creative force leave without fully tapping into his capabilities.
Our View – EPL Index Analysis
From the perspective of a Manchester City supporter, this story is layered with excitement, frustration and uncertainty. James McAtee has been widely regarded as one of the brightest prospects to emerge from the club's academy in recent years. Watching players like Cole Palmer succeed elsewhere begs the question: are we giving these youngsters enough opportunity?
McAtee is the kind of player City could need in transition games, in tighter cup fixtures or when rotation becomes critical during the business end of the season. He's technically sound, reads the game intelligently and clearly has the maturity to lead, as shown by his captaincy role with England's U21s.
Advertisement
There's something bittersweet in potentially losing him to Leverkusen. Yes, £25m or more is good business, but is that truly reflective of what he could become under Guardiola or even as part of a deeper squad reshuffle post-Kevin De Bruyne? In the current market, a fully integrated McAtee could be worth double in a couple of seasons.
Xabi Alonso's style and tactical approach would suit McAtee perfectly, and one can't help but feel he'd thrive in Germany. However, from a City standpoint, it's tough to reconcile allowing another homegrown star to flourish abroad while the club continues to spend heavily on ready-made midfielders.
Selling McAtee might make financial sense today, but could prove a footballing misstep tomorrow.