Manchester City are refusing to let James McAtee leave for cheap — and the reason traces back to what happened with Cole Palmer.
Sources have told Football Place that City are determined to extract maximum value for the 21-year-old midfielder, who is now entering the final 12 months of his contract. Pep Guardiola remains open to selling McAtee, but only if the fee reflects his long-term potential and homegrown value — just as it did when Palmer joined Chelsea last summer.
Palmer Regret Shaping McAtee Talks
In August 2023, City allowed Cole Palmer to leave for Chelsea in a £42.5m deal. Palmer went on to become a Premier League standout, scoring 22 goals in his first season and pushing for England recognition.
That transfer has since become a warning sign for Etihad decision-makers. With McAtee attracting interest from Nottingham Forest, Everton, West Ham and Leeds United, City are insisting any sale must deliver similar profit margins.
“They want to hold out for something similar to what they got for Cole Palmer,” a source close to the negotiations told Football Place.
Forest See Initial Bid Rejected
Nottingham Forest were the first club to table an official offer, worth £25m, but that bid was swiftly rejected. Although Forest remain interested, they’ve since splashed £34.6m on Dan Ndoye, raising questions over whether they’ll return with an improved package.
West Ham and Everton have also been tracking the former England U21 star, while newly-promoted Leeds are monitoring his situation — but no club has yet matched City’s valuation.
McAtee’s 2024/25 Premier League Stats
| Stat (2024/25) | James McAtee |
|---|---|
| Appearances | 27 |
| Goals | 7 |
| Assists | 0 |
| Chances Created | 21 |
| Pass Accuracy | 85% |
Why Man City Want Full Value
City are also factoring in the PSR (Profit and Sustainability Rules) context. As an academy graduate, McAtee represents 100% profit in the books — and selling him for £40m+ would help balance other incoming transfer costs.
Despite his contract running down, City are happy to wait. If no agreement is reached, McAtee could still be offered a renewal or loaned out again before a permanent sale next year.
Analyst Verdict: Should City Sell Now?
James McAtee remains a high-upside player with Premier League pedigree and U21 international honours — but he’s yet to cement a place in Guardiola’s rotation. If City can bank £35m–£40m for a player who may walk for free in 12 months, it would be a shrewd financial move. However, letting another top talent leave — only to shine elsewhere like Palmer — could bring more backlash from fans and pundits alike.
Key Insights
- Man City rejected £25m bid from Nottingham Forest
- Club want closer to £40m — using Cole Palmer’s £42.5m fee as reference
- McAtee has one year left on his deal
- West Ham, Everton and Leeds also monitoring the situation
- Player’s sale would count as 100% PSR profit
What’s Next?
Manchester City are expected to hold further talks with Nottingham Forest this week. If no improved bid is made, the club may wait until late August to reassess, especially if no new midfielder is signed.
Should Man City cash in now — or is another Cole Palmer mistake looming?
1 Comment (last comment by Adem)
First read message
By Adem 3 Aug 2025 11:18
they're crazy! 12 months left on his contract aint no way he's worth what's Palmer been worth. But back when we bought Palmer everyone thought we were crazy, I think James has shown more than what Palmer has showed?
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