Report: Man City ‘reluctant’ to let talent leave on loan; 12 clubs want him

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Manchester City are reportedly cautious about letting 19-year-old midfielder James McAtee leave on loan in January, with several clubs said to be keen on signing the youngster on loan.

According to Wales Online, Pep Guardiola’s side are ‘reluctant’ to let the teenager depart in January. As per the report, 12 clubs are said to be eager in signing McAtee on loan, with Swansea City one of the teams known to have an interest in the City academy star.

However, the Premier League giants have expressed little interest in sanctioning an exit, with City believing that time training with the first team and being involved on matchdays would be more beneficial to McAtee’s development.

The midfielder is the latest name to emerge from the City Academy following Phil Foden’s rise and the emergence of Cole Palmer this season. McAtee has been a star for the club at youth level, and now Guardiola is handing the teenager his first taste of first-team football.

As per the Manchester Evening News, the Catalan manager is a big fan of the England youth international. And with McAtee recently making his Premier League debut for City, it makes sense why the club are reluctant to let him leave on loan.

Indeed, whilst first-team minutes could be limited in the second half of the season, a cautious approach to McAtee’s development could be the smart play for the youngster, even with EFL clubs keen to sign the teenager on loan in January.

Loan move could be wrong course of action for McAtee

We have already seen Guardiola take control of the development of one City talent in Foden and have it pay off spectacularly. And for McAtee, a similar situation could well be on the cards, even with loan interest high.

After all, McAtee is viewed as one of the club’s top talents coming from the City Academy. And whilst minutes will be limited between now and the end of the season, the midfielder’s development could be better off with the Premier League titans given the quality they have in the squad.