Pep Guardiola makes decision on new Manchester City midfielder to join first-team NEXT SEASON

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has reportedly confirmed his desire to include James McAtee in his first-team squad for the new season.

Off the back of a historic season that has seen City secure a treble of trophies with success in the Premier League, FA Cup, and Champions League, Pep Guardiola and his colleagues within the club’s hierarchy are certainly not looking to settle any time soon.

As the summer transfer window officially opened for business on Wednesday, Manchester City will be looking to complete the large bulk of their activity early, and have new faces and departures confirmed by the time the squad returns for pre-season next month.

One area of the squad that is of significant focus to Etihad Stadium officials is central midfield, as the club continue to be left uncertain over where the futures of Ilkay Gundogan and Bernardo Silva lie beyond this summer.

While Chelsea’s Mateo Kovacic has emerged as a priority target for Manchester City in recent weeks, a new report has detailed fresh plans from within the club’s training staff to further develop the role of an academy graduate within the first-team squad.

That is according to Craig Hope of the Mail, who reports that Manchester City will resist loan offers for central midfielder James McAtee this summer, as manager Pep Guardiola wants the 20 year-old to be part of his squad next season.

It is further explained that meetings have already taken place involving Manchester City first-team and academy staff regarding the future of McAtee, and the plan is for the England youth international to start the campaign with Guardiola’s senior squad.

Sheffield United and Burnley are both claimed to be keen on McAtee, however the Mail reports that the Premier League champions want to give one of their star academy graduates an opportunity to develop alongside the likes of Kevin de Bruyne and Phil Foden next season.

In a further testament to the abilities of James McAtee, Manchester City are also understood to be lining up a fresh contract for the youngster at the club, protecting his transfer value and also rewarding him for an excellent campaign at Bramall Lane last season.

Across the course of 43 appearances in all competitions for Sheffield United last season, James McAtee recorded a total of nine goals and a further four assists – completing 2,358 minutes of game-time.

It is currently unclear just how James McAtee’s arrival in the Manchester City first-team would affect their transfer plans this summer, however club officials remain determined to make Mateo Kovacic one of their first arrivals.

The Croatian Chelsea midfielder is understood to have agreed personal terms with those responsible for transfer negotiations at the Etihad Stadium, while an agreement over a transfer fee is not expected to be problematic.