JAMES McATEE has reportedly been left out of Manchester City’s Club World Cup squad amid links with rivals Manchester United.
Shock reports claim McAtee, 22, has emerged as a target for the Red Devils this summer.
The playmaker has been at City since 2013, rising up through the academy before taking in a double loan spell at Sheffield United.
This season saw McAtee emerge as a rotation player under Guardiola, with the ace netting seven goals in 27 outings.
However, City have numerous attacking options both in midfield and out wide.
Guardiola is also said to be plotting swoops for the likes of Lyon’s Rayan Cherki and Nottingham Forest’s Morgan Gibbs-White.
And that could see McAtee become available for a transfer away from the Etihad, with United thought to be circling.
Now, speculation regarding his City future has heated up after McAtee was left out of the squad for the Club World Cup.
The tournament runs simultaneously alongside the U21s Euros in Slovakia.
Having initially not been included, McAtee has now been added to England’s pre-tournament training squad.
And the Mail claims it means he is unlikely to feature for City ever again, with Guardiola seemingly happy to not have him on board for the lucrative club tournament in America.
To compound things, teammate Rico Lewis was also eligible for U21s selection.
But unlike McAtee, he has not been called up by England as City want him to travel to the Club World Cup instead.
Another factor at play is that McAtee’s contract expires in 2026, with City needing to either hand him a new deal or cash in before he becomes a free agent.
Guardiola previously indicated he wanted McAtee to stay, but admitted the youngster could struggle for minutes if he remains at City.
Guardiola in April: “For the age, I’d like him to stay. But I understand players want more minutes.
“He can play different positions but I don’t know how the squad will be and we will see.”
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