‘Everton are working on James McAtee deal – the price has gone up £15m’
James McAtee is expected to quit Man City this summer after his lack of action under Pep Guardiola in recent seasons.
Football Insider has revealed (2 July) that McAtee wants to leave City for the good of his development, with first-team football a priority.
Newcastle and Nottingham Forest are keen on the Englishman and are weighing up moves this summer, while Bundesliga clubs have also been credited with an interest.
McAtee, who has 12 months left to run on his Man City contract, has already seen success this summer after captaining England’s Under-21 side to triumph at the European Championships.
Everton’s former chief Keith Wyness – who served as CEO at Goodison Park between 2004 and 2009 and now runs a football consultancy advising elite clubs – claimed his old side could now enter a hotly-contested race for his signature.
‘I’m a big fan of McAtee’, says ex-Everton chief Wyness
Speaking on the new edition of Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, Wyness claimed Everton boss David Moyes has been “sniffing around” the attacking midfielder.
McAtee made 27 appearances across all competitions last term, scoring seven goals despite starting in only nine of those outings.
Wyness claimed he could fetch up to £40million after his exploits with England’s Under-21 side in Slovakia.
He told Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast: “When McAtee did come in, I thought he performed really, really well.
“I’m a big fan and yes, I would take him if I could. I know there’s been rumours, I know that Moyes has been sniffing around as well.
“I don’t know where he’s going to go, but I think there’ll be four or five clubs in an auction for him. The rumours were fees of £25million. I think he could fetch up to £40million.
“He’s that good a talent. And this is where his Under-21 situation will have helped in terms of his valuation for Man City.”
‘Everton to miss out on Ferguson’
Meanwhile, Everton could reportedly be set to miss out on the signing of Brighton star Evan Ferguson.
That is according to former Man United and Blackburn chief scout Mick Brown, who claims that Celtic are confident they can beat both the Toffees and Nottingham Forest to a deal.
Brown added that Celtic believe their ability to offer him guaranteed playing time and Champions League football could give them an edge in the race.
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