Manchester City midfielder James McAtee has reportedly attracted interest from as many as eight clubs ahead of the summer transfer window.
The 20-year-old is currently enjoying a successful season-long loan spell with Championship outfit Sheffield United, who recently secured automatic promotion back to the Premier League.
McAtee was recently named the Blades' Young Player of the Year having scored eight goals and provided three assists in 41 appearances across all competitions, including five goal contributions in his last eight games.
The England Under-21 international is expected to return to Man City this summer following his loan spell at Sheffield United, but it remains to be seen where he will be playing his football in the 2023-24 campaign.
According to the Daily Mail, Vincent Kompany's Burnley are the latest club to enter the race for McAtee's signature, while Sheffield United, Aston Villa, Brentford, Brighton & Hove Albion, Bournemouth, Leeds United and Leicester City have also been credited with an interest.
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Kompany, a Man City legend who has successfully steered Burnley to the Championship title this season, is said to have watched McAtee on several occasions in the second tier, while members of his backroom staff who have connections with the Citizens are also familiar with the midfielder.
Despite strong interest in McAtee's services from a number of clubs, Man City manager Pep Guardiola is believed to be keen to keep hold of the highly-rated youngster.
The Catalan boss intends to assess McAtee when he returns to the Citizens in the summer, with the midfielder wanting to challenge for a first-team role at the Etihad Stadium.
McAtee is under contract on the blue side of Manchester until June 2026, but it is understood that the reigning Premier League champions are preparing to offer the midfielder a new deal.
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Prior to joining Sheffield United on a temporary deal, McAtee starred for Man City's Under-21s side and was named Premier League 2 Player of the Season after recording 18 goals and seven assists in 23 appearances.
McAtee also made six first-team appearances under Guardiola last season, including his Premier League debut in a 3-0 home win over Everton in November 2021.
The prospect of McAtee gaining the desired game time at Man City could be boosted should the Citizens decide to part ways with midfield trio Ilkay Gundogan, Bernardo Silva and Cole Palmer, who have all been linked with summer departures.
Gundogan is out of contract at the end of the season and has been strongly linked with a free transfer to Barcelona, who are also interested in signing Bernardo Silva.
Palmer, meanwhile, is also said to be facing an uncertain future at the Etihad having started only five of his 22 games for City this season, with none of those coming in the Premier League.
Oliver Thomas
