Liverpool could hand Bundesliga club the financial keys to Manchester City signing | OneFootball

Manchester City’s aims of selling for their valuation placed on attacking midfielder James McAtee could hinge on Eintracht Frankfurt’s dealings with Liverpool.

McAtee’s future remains one of the unresolved narratives of City’s summer, with the 22-year-old viewed as one of the most likely permanent outgoings from Pep Guardiola’s first-team group in the ongoing market.

Having spent back-to-back loan spells at Sheffield United in the Championship and Premier League before embarking on his first full campaign at Manchester City last season, restrictions in game time have opened the door to a permanent exit.

City have maintained their stance on McAtee’s valuation, believing the academy graduate holds a market value similar to that of Cole Palmer and his £40 million move to Chelsea in 2023, especially considering his Premier League experience and international pedigree at youth level.

However, while interest has arrived from various top leagues — particularly the Premier League and Bundesliga — few clubs have shown a willingness to meet such financial demands without outgoings of their own.

Eintracht Frankfurt have been among the most persistent admirers, and recent developments involving another high-profile transfer could prove crucial in accelerating their pursuit of Manchester City’s highly-rated playmaker.

According to new information courtesy of German newspaper Bild, as translated and relayed by Sport Witness, Eintracht Frankfurt are expecting to earn €100 million from the sale of Hugo Ekitiké to Liverpool and plan to invest part of that sum into the signing of James McAtee.

It is detailed that the Bundesliga side are still in talks with the 22-year-old’s representative over a potential move from Manchester City, but cannot match the Premier League side’s financial request of between €25 million and €30 million.

However, Eintracht Frankfurt will continue to monitor the situation concerning McAtee and whether his asking price will be lowered by City, with the midfielder said to be impressed by the German club’s project.

McAtee’s openness to Frankfurt is an encouraging sign for all parties, particularly with the Bundesliga club keen to present a development-focused project where the Manchester City graduate would receive regular first-team minutes.

With Frankfurt once again aiming big this forthcoming season under manager Dino Toppmöller, McAtee could be seen as a central figure who may operate in a roaming attacking midfield role within a fluid front three.

From Manchester City’s perspective, the preference remains a permanent exit with either a buy-back clause or significant sell-on percentage attached — a structure similar to the deals completed for James Trafford and Liam Delap in recent years.

With James McAtee expected to feature sparingly during City’s campaign, a resolution could arrive soon, and Eintracht Frankfurt may hold the key. But much depends on whether Liverpool’s business indirectly provides the spark for another exit from the Etihad Stadium.