Update: Pep Guardiola sends James McAtee transfer update amid Man City future question News

James McAtee has just over a year left on his Manchester City contract and is trying to fight his way into Pep Guardiola’s plans.

Pep Guardiola admits he does not know if James McAtee will still be a Manchester City player next season.

McAtee, 22, has come through the City ranks and stood out as the only academy graduate to successfully reintegrate into the first team after spells out on loan. But he has struggled for game time this season and has only recently earned more minutes – scoring on his first Premier League start against Crystal Palace last weekend.

The forward is out of contract in 2026 and has attracted interest ahead of a defining summer in his career. Not only is his future uncertain, but he must choose whether to represent City at the Club World Cup or England under-21s at the U21 European Championships.

Regarding McAtee’s place in his squad, Guardiola took responsibility for his lack of minutes and insisted he wouldn’t hold that against him. “I didn’t allow him to play minutes so I cannot ask anything from the players who don’t play a lot of minutes. They could do better? No,” Guardiola said.

“Macca has this quality, the ability to create. He is there. The game worked better against Palace, you create chances. Macca close to the box is quite similar to Phil. They are there, a sense. It’s difficult to train, to make that movement because the ball is coming. If he plays minutes he will score.”

Yet Guardiola wouldn’t confirm whether he expects McAtee to be part of his squad for next season, telling the Salford-born player: “For the age, I’d like him to stay. But I understand the players want more minutes. I would like him to stay, he’s a player for the academy, he knows the patterns.

“He’s a lovely person and trained really good. He can play different positions but I don’t know how the squad will be and we will see.”

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