German champions Bayer Leverkusen are reportedly preparing an ambitious move to sign Manchester City’s promising midfielder James McAtee during the January transfer window. The England Under-21 international has caught the attention of Leverkusen manager Xabi Alonso, who is said to rate the youngster highly. With Leverkusen looking to strengthen their squad following Martin Terrier’s season-ending ACL injury, McAtee has emerged as a key target.
Leverkusen’s Pursuit of McAtee
According to Mail Sport, Leverkusen have already initiated discussions with Manchester City regarding a potential deal for McAtee. The German side is said to be increasingly confident of securing the midfielder’s signature. The move is part of their broader strategy to reinforce the squad for a challenging second half of the season, which will see them competing on multiple fronts, including the Bundesliga title race, the Champions League, and the German Cup.
McAtee, a product of Manchester City’s renowned academy, has been highly praised by Pep Guardiola. The City boss previously described him as the standout player in a youth team filled with future Premier League stars such as Cole Palmer, Romeo Lavia, and Jadon Sancho. “He’s a special, talented player,” Guardiola remarked earlier this season. “He was a main player, captain, and a City fan through and through.”
McAtee’s Journey and Potential
During his loan spell at Sheffield United, McAtee played a pivotal role in their promotion to the Premier League, contributing nine goals and three assists. However, his second loan spell with the Blades was less fruitful, as he struggled to prevent the team’s relegation, despite scoring and assisting three times.
In the summer, McAtee was a target for several Premier League clubs, but Guardiola opted to keep him at City. Praising the midfielder’s attitude and potential, Guardiola said: “He trains really well, never complains, and has proven his quality on the pitch.” Despite these accolades, McAtee has found first-team opportunities hard to come by this season, making just six Premier League appearances as a substitute.
Manchester City’s Changing Stance
Reports from Football Insider suggest that Guardiola has had a change of heart regarding McAtee’s future and is now open to offers for the 20-year-old. This decision aligns with City’s ongoing January rebuild, which has already seen them invest £126.1 million in new signings, including Omar Marmoush, Abdukodir Khusanov, Vitor Reis, and Claudio Echeverri. These additions aim to rejuvenate the squad after a slump in form between November and December.
However, City’s transfer activity has left them without a recognized right-back following Kyle Walker’s departure to AC Milan. Walker, who made 319 appearances and won 16 trophies during his time at City, moved on after struggling with form.
Jermie Frimpong: A Potential Replacement
City are reportedly eyeing Bayer Leverkusen’s Jermie Frimpong as a long-term replacement for Walker. The Dutch international, a former City academy player, has flourished at Leverkusen, where he has established himself as one of the world’s best attacking full-backs. Frimpong boasts an impressive record of 27 goals and 41 assists in 171 appearances and was instrumental in Leverkusen’s domestic double last season.
Frimpong, under contract until 2028, has previously expressed a desire to return to Manchester City. In a 2023 interview, he said, “It would be great to return… but they’re the best team in the world. In the future, we’ll see.”
A Swap Deal in the Works?
German journalist Florian Plettenberg recently revealed that Frimpong has a release clause of around £40 million, making him an appealing target for clubs like Liverpool, particularly as Trent Alexander-Arnold’s contract situation remains uncertain. However, City could potentially outmaneuver Liverpool by offering a package deal involving McAtee. A bid of £30 million plus McAtee, valued at £25 million, could tempt Leverkusen into parting with Frimpong. This would allow City to address two priorities: securing a high-caliber right-back and providing McAtee with an opportunity to develop further under Xabi Alonso’s guidance.
Conclusion
As January approaches, Bayer Leverkusen’s pursuit of James McAtee and Manchester City’s interest in Jermie Frimpong promise to be among the most intriguing transfer sagas. McAtee’s potential move to Leverkusen could provide him with the game time he needs to flourish, while City’s acquisition of Frimpong could solve their right-back dilemma. Both clubs appear poised to make bold moves as they aim to strengthen their squads for the challenges ahead.
The audacious Man City swap transfer deal that would smash January transfer window with dream reunion..
