Leicester City plotting super move for Man City player as date to final negotiations set

Enzo Maresca wants to sign Manchester City midfielder James McAtee on loan this summer, but Leicester City face competition from City Group club Girona, per Alan Nixon via Patreon.

Spanish club Girona are an affiliate club of City’s, and therefore could perhaps be first in line for McAtee’s signature.

Having accomplished a third placed finish in La Liga, Girona will be playing Champions League football next season, something that will undoubtedly peak both McAtee’s and Manchester City’s interest when deciding which would be the best place for him.

But The Foxes are managed by one of Pep Guardiola’s City assistants in Maresca, and he will be hoping for a favour from his former colleague.

It is unclear at this stage as to whether the England U21 international would entertain a move abroad, or whether he would prefer to stay in England with another season in Premier League.

Leicester want to strike McAtee loan deal

Reporting via his Patreon, journalist Alan Nixon has revealed that Manchester City’s City Group side Girona are keen to sign McAtee on loan this summer, with the allure of Champions League football being a large selling point.

The attacking midfielder has returned to Manchester after his loan spell with Sheffield United, and he did enough to catch the eye of Foxes boss Maresca, as he also wishes to bring the 21-year-old to the King Power Stadium.

Nixon states that his need for game time mixed with European football, means a move to the La Liga side is one that has a lot of appeal to all parties.

He also reports that Leicester attempted to sign McAtee last summer, but the midfielder opted for a move to Brammall Lane instead. He does believe that Leicester, like Girona, would also be an ideal landing spot for McAtee despite the likelihood of being involved in a relegation battle.

McAtee would be a versatile attacking addition

The ability to be versatile is always one that is highly valued by football managers, especially in the way that the modern game is played.

This is certainly something that McAtee brings to the table, as he’s been seen lining up as a traditional central midfielder, a right-winger, a number ten and even as a striker.

Three goals and three assists in the Premier League last season aren’t figures that jump off the screen, but within the context of Blades enduring one of the lowest top-flight point tallies we’ve seen, those numbers are highly respectable.

McAtee’s 33 successful dribbles were only bettered by 9.3% of Premier League players in his position last season, whilst his 73 touches in the opposition box were only bettered by 13.2% of top-flight players – per FotMob.

It will be fascinating to see which option both McAtee and Manchester City will choose this summer, as a clearly progressive club such as Girona could prove to be an exciting place for the young Englishman to go and learn his trade, and perhaps add some different strings to his bow.

And in normal circumstances, a loan move to a fellow Premier League club such as Leicester City would mean it would be easier to keep tabs on his progress.

But with Girona being an affiliate of Manchester City’s, they should be able to receive the same levels of feedback and insight even if Spain is to be his chosen destination this summer.