Leicester City lining up Man City playmaker as summer transfer target | OneFootball

With Leicester City picking up another three points against play-off chasing West Brom on Saturday, they are ever closer to achieving a return to the Premier League at the first time of asking.

The boost of top flight football could also be huge for some of the Foxes' transfer plans this summer too.

According to The Sun, the Foxes are eyeing a move for Manchester City midfielder James McAtee, who has been on loan at Sheffield United for the past two years.

The highly-rated youngster has been a shining light in a Blades team that has really struggled for form, sitting bottom of a competitive Premier League.

For McAtee, though, he has been able to gain a significant number of minutes and Enzo Maresca's side will hope they can add to that next year.

Leicester City interested in Man City's James McAtee once again

For Maresca, this is not the first time they have shown interest in the 21-year-old, as last summer they were chasing him, according to Alan Nixon.

Man City were supposedly desperate for the midfielder to move to the East Midlands to link up with their former assistant boss Maresca, but McAtee had none of it and snubbed Leicester to secure his move to Bramall Lane for the second year running.

Clearly, McAtee places a high priority on playing in the Premier League, and with Leicester having the opportunity to book their place in that division next Saturday, it could be a great move for both parties.

As stated by The Sun, a loan move is most likely, with City still interested in retaining his services, seeing him as a natural replacement for Portuguese star Bernardo Silva, who has been a figurehead at the Etihad Stadium in recent years.

In addition, financial issues would likely deny Leicester the opportunity to sign McAtee permanently, with the Citizens likely to want big money for a permanent sale of one of their top prospects.

Enzo Maresca could be a key factor in Leicester signing James McAtee

Interest may come from elsewhere, but a key to unlocking the deal could be Enzo Maresca's time spent with the midfielder at the Etihad.

Having coached Man City's under-21's, the Leicester manager has spent a great deal of time with McAtee, who has particular fondness for the Italian.

In an interview in 2021, McAtee said about Maresca's methods: "Training has become more intense and harder. He’s a great manager, and he’s helped us a lot.

“He’ll let you know when you’re not doing so good and he’ll let you know when you are doing good.

"He wouldn’t come in and nail us if we played well and lost, but if we didn’t have a good attitude that’s when he’ll be straight with us.”

Undoubtedly, the 21-year-old has a great deal of respect for his former manager, and his ability to develop young players this season has been noticeable.

Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Abdul Fatawu are two young players that have improved significantly, and City would certainly be keen for Maresca to implement his possession-based style on McAtee.

The final league table will ultimately paint the picture as to whether this transfer will happen, but should the Foxes secure promotion, you feel that McAtee will likely be lining up for Enzo Maresca's side next August.