Report: Man City are now open to selling player who Pep Guardiola thinks is a 'special talent'

01/27/2025 07:15 AM

Manchester City may start to focus on offloading players now following what has been a busy month in terms of arrivals at the Etihad.

City have spent around £120 million on recruits during the January transfer window with three new players arriving through the door.

The Premier League champions’ marquee addition was Omar Marmoush from Frankfurt and they also added promising young defenders Vitor Reis and Abdukodir Khusanov.

The door has now opened to certain players leaving the club and one of those stars is a forward who Pep Guardiola has spoken highly of previously.

Bayer Leverkusen working to sign James McAtee

Bayer Leverkusen are now working on a deal to sign Manchester City forward James McAtee, according to Florian Plettenberg.

The Bundesliga champions have opened direct talks with City and have already submitted a first offer of a loan with an option to buy.

The arrival of Omar Marmoush at City is understood to be why Guradiola’s team are now open to letting their academy star leave.

McAtee hasn’t played a great deal of football this season for City having managed just two starts all season and now he wants regular minutes.

Why James McAtee is such a ‘special talent’

Guardiola will hope he is not making the same mistake he made with Cole Palmer by allowing another highly rated academy star to leave.

McAtee was part of the City Academy team which included the likes of Morgan Rogers, Palmer, Liam Delap, Romeo Lavia and Jadon Sancho.

Guardiola has previously spoken very highly of the 22-year-old, telling the media after his hat-trick against Salford City: “He's an exceptional guy and he has a special talent. When he plays close to the opposition, he has an incredible sense of goal. His work ethic is unbelievable and he is aggressive.”

The midfielder has netted five times for City this campaign and it’s no wonder such a big team like Leverkusen wants him.