Leeds United and Wes Ham set to be handed setback in Man City transfer chase | OneFootball

The youngster is set to remain with Manchester City, unless they sign a replacement

Leeds United are not set to get the chance to sign Man City youngster James McAtee in January, with the Premier League champions now likely to keep the 22-year-old around for the duration of the campaign.

Attacking midfielder McAtee had previously been linked with a loan move to the promotion-chasing Whites, with chances in Pep Guardiola's side scarce so far this term, but now looks likely to stay at City, instead of making a switch to an interested club.

McAtee has struggled for game-time all season up to now, with his three starts only coming in the Community Shield and EFL Cup, despite the Citizens' poor form that has seen them slip to sixth in the top-flight as it stands.

Leeds are seeking midfield reinforcements ahead of the second half of the Championship season, with automatic promotion their sole aim and a massive priority going forward, yet they will seemingly have to move on from chasing the Salford-born midfield man ahead of the new year.

Leeds suffer James McAtee setback ahead of January

According to a new report from transfer journalist Alan Nixon, via Patreon, Manchester City will keep McAtee for the rest of the season, with the 22-year-old being told that he will not be allowed out unless a new face comes in.

Nixon claims that West Ham see McAtee as an ideal addition ahead of next month, while Leeds will also seemingly be reeling about missing out on his services, after previous reports linking them with interest in a move.

LeedsLive claimed last month that the Whites had renewed their interest in a loan deal for McAtee, after Whites chief Angus Kinnear had previously revealed the club's interest in McAtee in September, with a view to a potential agreement being made in January for him to move to Elland Road for the rest of the Championship campaign.

The report claimed that the club did not want to commit to a January transfer for the 22-year-old at the £20m price being discussed, but were set to swoop to get a loan deal done, while City were open to letting him leave temporarily.

It seems as if the Premier League champions' stance has now changed though, just over a month on, which should come as little surprise given their recent run of poor form.

Leeds need added attacking midfield firepower to aid their promotion chase

Leeds have enjoyed a successful charge at the automatic promotion places this season, but will want to make some slight tweaks to their playing squad in the January window to give them the best chance of returning to the Premier League in May.

Daniel Farke's side lost some of their key players in the summer window, such as Crysencio Summerville, Georginio Rutter and Archie Gray, yet have been able to sustain a promotion challenge this season with the likes of Wilfried Gnonto, Ao Tanaka and Pascal Struijk all playing key roles.

The Whites have been linked with moves for numerous new additions ahead of the new year, but while they boast one of the strongest starting XI's and squads in the second-tier, boss Farke has admitted that the club "don’t expect a busy January."

While Brenden Aaronson has impressed at times so far this season, they could certainly do with a real consistent playmaker in his position in the new year, just to give them that extra boost to their promotion chances.

McAtee would have been the ideal capture, as his quality is clear, and he has previously impressed in the Championship with Sheffield United, but now it looks as if the Whites will have to move on from chasing his signature.