Tottenham Hotspur have reportedly entered the running to sign Manchester City midfielder James McAtee this summer, but they will face stiff competition for the playmaker.
Ange Postecoglou's creative ranks have suffered two major blows in recent days, as both Lucas Bergvall and James Maddison have been ruled out for the rest of the season with ankle and knee injuries respectively.
Nevertheless, the Lilywhites will be competing for Europa League glory against Manchester United in the final in two Wednesday's time, and victory would provide a pathway into the 2025-26 Champions League.
Tottenham's negotiating power in the transfer market would be significantly strengthened if they can force their way back into Europe's top competition, even if they are doomed to finish in the bottom half of the Premier League table.
While Bergvall and Maddison are bidding to return from their issues in time for the start of next season, TBRFootball claims that Tottenham want to reinforce their playmaking ranks with the signing of McAtee from Man City.
Tottenham, Nottingham Forest to go head-to-head for McAtee?
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The 22-year-old's future has been a hot-button topic all season long, as even with Kevin De Bruyne on the decline, McAtee struggled to force his way into Pep Guardiola's starting XI.
The midfielder has often impressed when called upon, though, coming up with seven goals from 26 matches in all tournaments this season, and he is belatedly starting matches in the Premier League.
McAtee did not make the first XI in any of Man City's first 31 top-flight matches of the campaign, but the England Under-21 international has now started three of their last five Premier League games, including Saturday's battle with Southampton.
However, McAtee's contract is up at the end of next season, and with no extension in sight given his lack of starts, a sale is expected to materialise as he searches for regular minutes elsewhere.
Tottenham will have to butt heads with fellow Champions League chasers Nottingham Forest to strike a deal for McAtee, though, as the Tricky Trees are at risk of losing Morgan Gibbs-White to Man City.
German giants Bayer Leverkusen are rumoured to be in 'direct contact' over a move too, as the 2023-24 Bundesliga winners are reportedly set to wave goodbye to Florian Wirtz, who is said to have agreed a summer move to Bayern Munich.
McAtee's 'stance' on possible Man City exit revealed
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McAtee is Man City born and bred, joining the club's youth system in 2013 and spending two spells on loan at Sheffield United in 2022-23 and 2023-24 before his first-team breakthrough.
However, as City are expected to pursue an outside replacement for De Bruyne rather than replacing internally, McAtee is understood to be keen to move on in search of regular game time elsewhere.
That game time could arrive at Forest if Gibbs-White joins Man City, and the Tricky Trees' interest in McAtee could raise the prospect of a swap or part-exchange transfer involving the two players.
However, McAtee would likely play second fiddle to a fully-fit Maddison at Tottenham, who may therefore already find themselves at a disadvantage in the race for the 22-year-old.
Ben Knapton
