Leeds United may have just gained a significant boost in their pursuit of a player whom Daniel Farke has long admired.
Leeds United have just over a week until the summer transfer window officially begins on June 1st.
For Daniel Farke, this summer’s transfer business must be flawless if his team is to have a chance of avoiding relegation in the Premier League next season.
Thankfully, there appear to be an increasing number of players on his transfer radar ahead of the summer. There are some really fascinating names on there, as well as some from prior transfer windows.
Farke will need to add some genuine star quality to his squad this summer, and Leeds United has a £100 million transfer budget to spend on new players. Expect Farke to spend the entire amount as well. One player who could eat up some of James McAtee’s £100 million.
Pep Guardiola’s Man City ultimatum is fantastic news for Leeds United.
Leeds United are interested in signing McAtee this summer. They were also interested in January, but the 22-year-old offensive midfielder stayed with Manchester City, where he made 15 Premier League appearances and scored three goals in 2024/25.
The £25 million-rated McAtee is scheduled to leave Manchester City this summer, with his contract expiring in the summer of 2026.
And City manager Pep Guardiola has now hinted at a potential player exodus from Manchester City this summer, which will almost certainly include McAtee.
Guardiola has vowed to quit if his team does not streamline their playing squad during the summer transfer window. He told BBC Sport: “I told the club I didn’t want that [a larger squad].” I do not want to keep five or six players in the freezer. I do not want that. I am going to quit. Make a smaller team; I will stay. It is hard for my soul to inform my players in the tribune [stands] that they are unable to play.”
Pep later explained: “As a manager, I cannot train 24 players, and every time I make a selection, four, five, or six of them must stay in Manchester because they are unable to play. This will not happen. I told the club, “I don’t want that.”
James McAtee has already been told to leave Manchester City, amid Leeds United links.
McAtee was already expected to leave the Etihad this summer. And Pep’s latest words virtually guarantee McAtee’s departure, as he is clearly one of the team’s expendable components. Whether Leeds United can complete a transaction remains to be seen.
He’d almost certainly get regular game time at Elland Road, but he might prefer a move to a more established Premier League team, where the Englishman is sure to be very interested.
Either way, an exit is now unavoidable. Alan Shearer recently urged McAtee to leave Manchester City this summer, saying, “He’s not getting into their team.”
He’s another one who will have to depart. McAtee is clearly a name to keep an eye on this summer. He might still be Leeds United’s big signing.
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