Manchester City expert Steven McInerney from Esteemed Kompany is hopeful that James McAtee stays at the club and can establish himself as a first-team player, but he would not be surprised if the youngster expressed a desire to seek pastures new.
After two successful years on loan at Sheffield United, McAtee has since been integrated into Pep Guardiola's senior squad this term, as Man City decided against sending the midfielder out on loan for a third straight season.
However, at a time when Guardiola has been working with a depleted squad due to the club's injury crisis, McAtee has struggled for regular first-team football this season, making just six senior appearances in all competitions.
McAtee has been reduced to just three starts - two in the EFL Cup and one in the Community Shield - while he has featured for less than 60 minutes across three substitute outings in the Premier League and Champions League.
The 22-year-old did, however, make an impact off the bench in City's Champions League win over Slovan Bratislava last month, scoring his first senior goal in a comfortable 4-0 away victory.
With some of Man City's first-team stars on the verge of returning to full fitness, it remains to be seen how much regular game time that McAtee will earn in the coming weeks and months.
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A recent report claimed that West Ham United have identified McAtee as a potential replacement for Lucas Paqueta, who is facing an uncertain future at the London Stadium amidst the ongoing investigation into alleged breaches of betting regulations.
Fulham have also been credited with an interest in McAtee, who has reacted to the speculation linking him with both Premier League clubs ahead of the January transfer window.
"I don't know. I've seen them play... They are very big clubs and play good football... I'm not too sure. I don't know [with a smile]," McAtee told Voetbal Primeur.
McAtee is rated highly by McInerney, who would be "gutted" to see the England Under-21 international leave and wants him to be given more opportunities under Guardiola, even though that was not initially the 'plan' for him this term.
However, McInerney would not be entirely surprised to see the youngster follow in the footsteps of other academy stars such as Cole Palmer, Romeo Lavia and Liam Delap, who have all moved on in search of regular first-team football.
Asked whether Man City would be willing to sell McAtee, McInerney told Sports Mole: "McAtee's situation is weird because he's barely played any football, but I don't think that was the plan. I think Guardiola becomes very risk-adverse in midfield, in particular, when senior players aren't there.
"I think the idea for McAtee was for him to be getting plenty of minutes at the end of games if City were winning comfortably, so he could play alongside Rodri, alongside Kevin De Bruyne.
McAtee in a 'difficult situation' at Man City amid West Ham, Fulham links
"I think he should have been used more. I'm also very wary of the classic trap that football fans always fall into that we think we see all of football, but we see about 10% of it, because training is 90% of what they do.
"I'm aware that he gets his chance every day in training. If Guardiola's not playing him, it's because he thinks he probably isn't ready, but that doesn't necessarily mean he can't be useful.
"It doesn't necessarily mean that we're wrong to feel that he should get more football. It could be that he doesn't look quite there, but some players are better on the pitch than they are in training anyway. I don't know what the reason is (for McAtee's lack of game time), but I do feel right now McAtee is in a bit of a difficult situation."
"I really, really, really rate his talent," McInerney added. "I think that what he's achieved at youth level, both for City and England, you can't ignore that. He's got majestic technique.
"I think he lacks a little bit of the belief that maybe someone like Cole Palmer has in himself. Cole Palmer is fearless. It doesn't matter if he's in front of 200,000 people or 10. I don't think he feels the nerves.
"I think McAtee is aware that he has to impress Guardiola. I think he plays within himself a tiny bit, and I do want to see him express himself a little bit more.
"If City let him go, we could be looking at a situation where we look at people like [Liam] Delap doing really well now (at Ipswich Town) and think: 'Oh, he could be useful', or Romeo Lavia, or Cole Palmer, or Morgan Rogers, [Taylor] Harwood-Bellis - now a goalscorer for England as well.
"These players are starting to find success and I think we're going to see more of that, because I think City have been balancing the books. I do think all these players need is a year or two before they find themselves a Champions League level team, and I think that's going to happen more and more often. I'd be so gutted to see James McAtee, a guy who wants to be here desperately, do the same.
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'West Ham would be a bad move for McAtee'
McInerney does not believe that McAtee will leave Man City in January, while he is against the idea of him joining a club like West Ham, adding: "I think West Ham would be a bad move for him. I wouldn't recommend that at all.
"I don't think they play the football that he needs. I don't think he'd enjoy it there and West Ham are just too turbulent a club.
"I think you need to go to a club like Brighton & Hove Albion or somewhere like that, a side that would actually have a plan for him.
"I don't think West Ham have plans ever. I think they just drift through existence and make it up - sometimes they get lucky and sometimes they don't.
"I understand if McAtee wants to go (leave Man City). I hope he doesn't. I think he's got so much quality. I think it's just a matter of time. I think Pep needs to play him more, but I understand why he doesn't. We will see.
"I think City won't let him go anyway. They won't let him go this window (in January). It'll be in the summer if anything and I think he might have to force the issue himself as well if he doesn't get any football."
Asked whether a move to Fulham would suit McAtee more than a switch to West Ham, McInerney said: "Yes. They have got [Emile] Smith Rowe as well. He plays in the same role [that McAtee would, but] Fulham are a better run side than West Ham.
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'McAtee could double his valuation quite easily at the right club if he left Man City'
"I know they haven't achieved quite as much as West Ham have historically, but I do feel like that would be a better fit, a more personable club. I don't think they churn through players anywhere near as much as West Ham do."
Responding to reports suggesting that Man City could demand a fee upwards of £20m for McAtee, McInerney said: "I think it has to be. I think the proof is in the Delap, Lavia, Cole Palmer pudding really. McAtee's reputation remains high even if he doesn't play much football. I'd be expecting a minimum of [£20m] in this market.
"A talented England Under-21 player - and captain actually during the international break. I think people really rate McAtee and know that it's probably just a matter of time before (his career kicks on).
"If he finds the right club and it fits, they will get a guy worth double that quite easily within a year or two."
The prospect of Man City retaining the services of McAtee cannot be entirely ruled out either, as reports have also suggested that the Citizens could offer the midfielder a new contract, with his current deal due to expire in 2026.
McAtee progressed through City's academy from Under-11s to the Elite Development Squad, and while representing the latter, he was named the club's Player of the Year and Premier League 2 Player of the Season in the 2021-22 campaign.
He has since made a total of 88 senior appearances in his career, including 75 on loan at Sheffield United and 13 with Man City.
Oliver Thomas
