Report: Manchester City gem snubs multiple late-window offers, Guardiola has plan in mind

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James McAtee has rejected several offers to leave Manchester City to stay and fight for minutes under Pep Guardiola in the Carabao Cup this season, according to the Daily Mail.

A host of English Football League and overseas outfits had made approaches looking to sign the 18-year-old on loan. But McAtee has elected to remain at the Etihad Stadium to follow the path Phil Foden took to the first-team.

McAtee has started the season in sensational form with six goals and an assist in three PL2 appearances. He has started all of the Citizens’ youth-level league fixtures so far and netted hat-tricks against Blackburn Rovers plus Manchester United.

Swansea City were a notable Championship side to express their interest in signing McAtee on loan from Manchester City. Boss Russell Martin strives to play a possession-based style of football, which he seemingly felt would suit the Salford-born maestro.

Brentford, Blackburn, Derby County and Nottingham Forest also offered the England U20 international a path to the second-tier. While Sunderland could offer regular League One game time, and a number of Dutch sides presented a possible Eredivisie adventure.

McAtee hopes his decision to reject potential moves away from Manchester City will now be rewarded in the Carabao Cup. The Citizens start their competition against Wycombe late next month, and Guardiola is already allowing the teenager to train with the first-team.

Manchester City impressed by ‘Salford Silva’ McAtee

Manchester City want McAtee to stay in and around the senior fold this season so he can follow Foden’s path. The teen, dubbed the ‘Salford Silva’ after David Silva, has constantly impressed club staff as he moves up age levels.

Guardiola may now unleash McAtee against Wycombe next month after he rejected offers to leave on loan. And witness first-hand on the pitch what Manchester City’s U23s manager Brian Barry-Murphy has hailed previously.

“You are seeing him being one of the more senior players in this group and looking after Micah [Hamilton] and Shea [Charles], who are making a first appearance of the season and Oscar [Bobb],” Barry-Murphy told the Citizen’s club website. “So, to see him develop that leadership is a very important part of his development.”