- Bayer Leverkusen manager Xabi Alonso is keen on signing James McAtee, 22
- The Manchester City starlet only has 18 months left on his current contract
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Bayer Leverkusen have held talks with Manchester City over a deal for James McAtee.
The Bundesliga side, who have also approached Aston Villa over a loan move for Emiliano Buendia, had pinpointed McAtee as their number one target to replace Martin Terrier who has suffered an Achilles tendon rupture.
Coach Xabi Alonso is a confirmed admirer, having been made aware of McAtee’s emergence at City and the 22-year-old’s lack of regular starting opportunities.
Mail Sport reported earlier this month how a number of Bundesliga sides – including Dortmund, Mainz and Stuttgart – had registered interest in the highly-rated McAtee, and it is Leverkusen who have stepped to the fore by holding high-level conversations with City.
Leverkusen believe the England U21 international is keen to take up the challenge to join them with the prospect of regular game time in the Champions League, Bundesliga and German Cup.
Pep Guardiola has admitted regularly that he wants McAtee to stay but has struggled to give him the opportunities he deserves.
James McAtee has attracted interest from multiple clubs based in Germany’s Bundesliga
Xabi Alonso’s Bayer Leverkusen lead the queue following high-level talks with Man City
Salford-born McAtee has scored five goals in 14 appearances for Man City so far this season
Those opportunities could be further limited by the signing of Omar Marmoush from Frankfurt and the fact out-of-sorts Jack Grealish seems unlikely to leave this window.
City have been keen to keep their squad intact to give Guardiola a fighting chance of resurrecting their season but Leverkusen’s talks with Villa over a loan for Buendia would hint that they are still to be convinced the Premier League champions will let McAtee leave without a fight.
McAtee, who has scored five goals this season, also has interest from several Premier League sides.
He has just 18 months remaining on his current contract at the Etihad Stadium.
