Exclusive: Man City reject £30m bids for youngster who Pep Guardiola believes could be the 'next Cole Palmer'

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TBR Football can reveal that Manchester City have rejected offers from Bayer Leverkusen, RB Leipzig, Stuttgart and Mainz for James McAtee this month.

All four Bundesliga clubs made permanent offers for the 22-year-old which were around the £30 million mark.

McAtee has impressed for the Premier League champions when handed chances to play this season, especially in the FA Cup when netted a hat-trick against Salford City.

Pep Guardiola’s side have now made their stance over doing a deal for the academy star very clear to interested clubs and they all look set to be disappointed.

Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images

Manchester City want to avoid Cole Palmer mistake with James McAtee

Manchester City firmly believe James McAtee can become a firm part of their first-team plans and want to avoid another Cole Palmer situation, sources have told TBR Football chief correspondent Graeme Bailey.

Palmer left City in the summer of 2023 for Chelsea and within 12 months he has become one of the Premier League's top attacking midfielders and an England regular.

TBR Football understands that City feel that McAtee is of similar quality to Palmer and this is a major reason behind why they are rejecting offers.

City saw the £45 million offered by Chelsea as top money at the time, however, the England star is now worth double that and that is why £30 million offers have been rejected for McAtee.

Will James McAtee’s game time at Man City?

McAtee, who is 22 – the same age as Palmer, has seen more game time since the turn of the year and has claimed four goals – including a hat-trick in the FA Cup win over Salford.

AppsMinutesMinutes
Premier League6166
Champions League4191
EFL Cup20180
FA Cup1390
Total135427
James McAtee’s stats this season

The youngster came off the bench against Ipswich Town to score his first Premier League goal earlier this month and he has now been a used substitute in four of their last five matches.

Against Club Brugge in the crucial Champions League clash which City won 3-1, he did not get off the bench so limited minutes will remain a concern for McAtee.

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