Kasey McAteer: How much is the Hull and Cardiff transfer target earning at Leicester City? | OneFootball

Football League World takes a look at Kasey McAteer's estimated Foxes pay packet amid interest from Hull and Cardiff City

Cardiff City and Hull City are reportedly in a transfer tug-of-war for Leicester City winger Kasey McAteer, who could depart the King Power Stadium this summer following the Foxes' instant return to the Premier League as champions.

After talk of Cardiff's interest had circulated on social media, it was officially called in a reveal from ex-Wales Online Head of Sport Paul Abbandonato, who has claimed that the Bluebirds have held initial talks ahead of potentially bringing the forward to the Welsh capital this summer.

However, Abbandonato's claim was followed up by an update by transfer guru Darren Witcoop on X, where he detailed both Cardiff and Hull's interest in striking a season-long loan deal for McAteer. It has since emerged via HullLive that the Tigers are growing confident of winning the race and securing McAteer's services for 24/25 while Cardiff are already eyeing alternatives, as evidenced by their recent interest in a highly-ambitious swoop for former Ajax and Aston Villa winger Anwar El Ghazi.

However, there are plenty of moving parts at play regarding any deal for El Ghazi, for whom any deal still remains some way off completion amid an ongoing contractual dispute with Bundesliga outfit Mainz 05 after a German court ruled of his "unfair dismissal".

Cardiff's pursuit of McAteer is still one that likely remains alive for the time being, and with that in mind, Football League World has decided to take a look at how much the Bluebirds and Hull transfer target is currently earning at Leicester via estimated figures listed on Capology.

Kasey McAteer current wage at Leicester City

Capology estimates that McAteer, who now finds himself in the final year of the three-year contract he signed in 2022, is currently earning £5,000 per week. That estimate ranks him as the third-lowest earner in the Foxes' squad, only ahead of Jakub Stolarczyk and Wanya Marcal.

However, McAteer's weekly earnings shouldn't come as too much of a surprise given he penned the contract while on loan with Forest Green Rovers in League Two, where he failed to contribute a goal or assist in nine matches. That said, the 22-year-old has now surely merited a pay rise after scoring six goals from just 13 starts in Leicester's title-winning campaign.

Whether the salary increase is provided by Leicester or Hull or Cardiff - or anyone else who could turn out to win the race, for that matter - remains to be seen.

Kasey McAteer's salary compared to Hull and Cardiff's top earners

When pitted against earners at both Hull and Cardiff as per Capology's estimated figures, McAteer also ranks low for the time being. The ex-AFC Wimbledon loanee would score ninth at the MKM Stadium on his current deal although Hull's third-highest earner is estimated to be Alfie Jones on just £12,000 per week, so you'd expect him to be among their most highly-paid players if he ends up signing.

Yet McAteer scores even lower when theoretically placed on Cardiff's wage bill under the terms of his Leicester deal. That isn't exactly what would've been expected when you consider that Hull receive more direct financial backing than the Bluebirds, although Cardiff's estimated salaries across the board are higher than you may think.

At the time of writing, academy product Eli King, who has represented his boyhood club at first-team level on just seven occasions, is the only player that Capology estimates to be taking home a lower amount than McAteer's present pay packet.

However, it is important to note that Capology has not provided estimated salary figures for Isaak Davies, Cian Ashford, Ryatoro Tsunoda, Joel Bagan and Kieron Evans, the latter of whom signed a new one-year contract earlier this summer after an impressive half-season on loan with Gateshead in the National League.