Is there a role for James McAtee at Manchester City in their rebuild? | OneFootball

There is one player who doesn’t seem to have a defined role in the Manchester City squad and that is James McAtee. This season did promise to be a make-or-break campaign in McAtee’s City career. So far we have seen snippets of quality from McAtee this season. His hat trick against Salford City in Manchester City’s FA Cup third-round tie win is one. His match-defining cameo off the bench during City’s 2-nil Premier League win over Leicester City is another. We have had glimpses of quality from McAtee this season.

But on other occasions, we have seen James McAtee flatter to deceive. His performance during Manchester City’s fourth-round FA Cup tie win against Leyton Orient is one such occasion. The same could be said for how McAtee performed against Plymouth Argyle at the Etihad during Manchester City’s 3-1 win last Saturday. There were glimpses or flashes of quality from McAtee, but not enough to illustrate that he could be a consistent player in Pep Guardiola’s rebuilt Manchester City squad. That’s where the problem lies.

There is no doubt that McAtee has the talent to play at the highest level. The problem is that he doesn’t have the consistency required to be a consistent member of Pep Guardiola’s squad based on what we’ve seen this season. Perhaps that’s part of being a young player developing his game. But perhaps that is what McAtee is and will always be at Manchester City. That is a squad player at best. If that’s the case you do feel that potentially McAtee could leave the club in the summer. He may feel that he should leave City to further his career.

James McAtee’s contract situation and the arrival of Claudio Echeverri may force McAtee and Manchester City’s hand in the summer.

There do appear to be two variables in the equation that surrounds James McAtee. One is the arrival of Claudio Echeverri. The Argentinian wonderkid plays in a similar position to James McAtee. With his arrival, there may be competition for McAtee on the horizon. That would depend on how Echeverri adapts to life at Manchester City. But you do feel that the pair could be competing for the same spot in Pep Guardiola’s squad. So that is something to watch for on that front.

The other variable is James McAtee’s contract situation. As per capology.com McAtee’s contract expires at the end of next season. This situation may see Manchester City look to cash in on the young midfielder. Oli Gamp has previously reported for The Mirror that Bayer Leverkusen have an interest in signing James McAtee in the summer. Perhaps they could move for McAtee in the summer. That’s a story to watch for also.

But you wonder where does James McAtee fit into Pep Guardiola’s squad as Manchester City look to continue their rebuild in the summer. He hasn’t developed the consistency in his game to be a regular starter in Pep Guardiola’s starting eleven. If that comes he may become a part of City’s rebuild. But if it doesn’t you do sense that McAtee could depart Manchester City in the summer. That prospect does loom large especially if Claudio Echeverri is as good as advertised.