Morgan Rogers reacts to James McAtee message as Man City transfer looms
James McAtee is ready to go “on to the next” as speculation grows over his long-term future at Manchester City.
The Blues continue their FIFA Club World Cup campaign on Sunday (22 June) against Emirati side Al Ain, after Phil Foden and Jeremy Doku fired Man City to a 2-0 victory over Wydad Casablanca in their opener.
Foden and Doku have been joined in Pep Guardiola‘s squad by Rayan Cherki and Tijjani Reijnders as Man City add further to their attacking numbers, but several previously key attackers have been left behind.
Jack Grealish’s absence from City’s Club World Cup squad leaves his career in limbo, while McAtee has instead travelled to Slovakia to captain Lee Carsley’s England at the Under-21 European Championships.
McAtee sends ‘big’ England message ahead of Man City exit
McAtee’s future at the Etihad Stadium is up in the air after an increase in game-time towards the end of last season, but Nottingham Forest are one of several clubs who could offer McAtee a starting XI role.
The 22-year-old’s full focus for the time being isn’t on events at Man City though, after McAtee led England into the semi-finals of the Under-21 Euros and scored the opener in their 3-1 win over Spain.
McAtee and Harvey Elliott netted quick-fire goals inside the opening 15 minutes of Saturday’s quarter-final to put England in control, and the City starlet sent a message on Instagram (21 June) at full-time.
Morgan Rogers has been linked with a big-money move to Man City this summer, and he left a ‘flames’ emoji in the comments of McAtee’s post, which said: “Big night! On to the next…”
Man City to miss both Rogers and McAtee next season
Football Insider Verdict
Rogers could yet be sold by Aston Villa this summer even if interest clubs fail to meet his £100million price tag, but the arrivals of Reijnders and Cherki in particular is likely to see City cool their interest.
With Cherki, Foden, Doku, Omar Marmoush, Bernardo Silva and Savinho to choose from, Guardiola has no shortage of attacking midfielders at his disposal ahead of Grealish and McAtee in the pecking order.
McAtee’s departure looks inevitable even if a swap deal involving Morgan Gibbs-White is now off the table, and his exploits for England’s Under-21s will have done no harm to his Premier League transfer prospects.