James McAtee future takes fresh twist as Manchester City hold talks with German clubs over possible loan

Manchester City are reportedly holding talks with German clubs as they look to plot out the next phase of development for rising star James McAtee.

The young attacking midfielder has endured a hugely successful campaign on-loan in the second tier of English football – his first spell away from Manchester City since breaking into the senior game following Academy development.

With nine goals and four assists to his name across 43 appearances in all competitions, James McAtee was also named as Sheffield United’s Young Player of the Season such was the impressive nature of his performances.

While Manchester City are expected to see major change in midfield this summer ahead of the new season, the latest line of reporting would suggest that McAtee still remains someway off being a regular feature in Pep Guardiola’s matchday squad.

That is according to the information of Alan Nixon, who states that Manchester City want James McAtee to make the right loan move next season, concerning those at his current loan club Sheffield United following a successful campaign in the Championship.

It is stated that City’s transfer team are now ‘studying the options’ for McAtee after his spell at Bramall Lane that resulted in promotion to the Premier League. However, Etihad staff are hoping to place the 20 year-old at ‘a leading club in the Premier League’ to test his skills.

Alongside the possibility of a top-level loan within England’s first division, Manchester City are also reportedly in talks with German clubs that are being encouraged about the possibility of taking James McAtee for a year.

Elsewhere on the loans front at the Etihad Stadium, Nixon further reports that City are also set to make similar decisions on goalkeeper James Trafford and centre-back Taylor Harwood-Bellis, with a return to Burnley under discussion for the latter.

It could be a very busy summer for Manchester City when it comes to deciding the futures of rising academy talents, especially after yet another hugely successful season across the age groups at the City Football Academy.

Following the Elite Development Squad’s claiming of yet another Premier League 2 title, it is expected that a number of the names within that group will be targeted for moves away across Europe – namely Carlos Borges and Adedire Mebude.

West Ham and Southampton are among the clubs understood to be monitoring the availability of Portugal youth international Borges, while his attacking partner Mebude has attracted interest from the likes of Tottenham and Newcastle.