Man City keen to avoid Cole Palmer transfer situation, club want to hold onto ‘special’ young talent

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• EXCLUSIVE from Graeme Bailey

HITC understands that Manchester City are very keen to keep a talented youngster at the club as they do not want a repeat of the Cole Palmer situation.

Manchester City made the decision to sell Englishman Cole Palmer to Chelsea last summer but that certainly backfired on Pep Guardiola’s men.

Palmer was one of the best players in the Premier League last season and featured for England at Euro 2024 as the Three Lions reached the final of the competition.

Whilst Palmer certainly made the right decision to leave the Etihad Stadium for pastures new, City will be keen to avoid a repeat of that situation this summer.

Man City prepared to keep James McAtee this summer

Sources have told HITC that City are keen to avoid another repeat of the Palmer situation and are keen on keeping hold of the Englishman James McAtee.

HITC understands nearly a dozen clubs from the Premier League, Championship and Europe have contacted them about landing the 21-year-old midfielder.

McAtee has played a handful of first-team games for City but has spent the last two seasons on-loan at Sheffield United playing in both the Championship and Premier League.

The 21-year-old’s position on his future is that he believes he can make the grade at City next season and sources within the club have told HITC that he is going to get that chance.

City’s top brass keen to not lose ‘special’ talent

We are told that whilst the final decision on any player is down to head coach Pep Guardiola, the club’s top brass are eager to avoid another Palmer situation.

Last season for Chelsea, in the Premier League, Palmer scored 22 goals and provided 11 assist for the Blues.

McAtee has been involved in City’s pre-season and Guardiola spoke after their loss to Celtic on Tuesday.

“I’d love to have James McAtee and to keep him next season,” he told Manchester City’s website. “He’s special guy to play in small spaces, in the pockets, we don’t have many. I’ve a high, high opinion of McAtee and I also know his huge potential”.