AliousWolves Eye McAtee as Cunha & Sarabia Exits Loom – £25M City Starlet Targeted Amid Intense Transfer Battle
Wolverhampton Wanderers are actively pursuing Manchester City attacking midfielder James McAtee as they prepare for a potential summer rebuild. With Matheus Cunha on Manchester United’s radar for a reported £62.5 million and Pablo Sarabia nearing the end of his contract, Wolves are prioritising fresh attacking talent – and McAtee has emerged as a prime candidate.
Sources close to Molineux confirm that McAtee is high on Wolves’ summer shortlist. The club views the 22-year-old as a player capable of slotting directly into the starting XI and believe he possesses significant untapped potential. Although Manchester City are yet to publicly set an asking price, £25 million is reportedly sufficient to strike a deal – a reasonable sum considering McAtee’s contract expires in 2026.
However, Wolves will have to fend off stiff competition both domestically and abroad. Premier League rivals Newcastle, West Ham, Crystal Palace, Nottingham Forest and newly promoted Leeds United have all shown interest, while German heavyweights Bayer Leverkusen, Borussia Dortmund, RB Leipzig, and Italian sides Fiorentina and Bologna are also monitoring the situation.
McAtee has enjoyed a breakthrough year, earning nine starts and numerous cameos for Pep Guardiola’s side. He’s tallied seven goals in just 936 minutes of senior action, notably netting a hat-trick in City’s 8-0 rout of Salford City in the FA Cup. His development was further sharpened during two impactful loan stints with Sheffield United, where he notched 14 goals and 8 assists over 75 appearances.
With City expected to bolster their already stacked midfield this summer, McAtee faces a critical career decision. A move to Wolves could provide a more defined role, especially as head coach Vítor Pereira favours a system with one central striker flanked by two creative attackers. If signed, McAtee would likely fill the right-side role, using his left foot to cut in and create chances, much like Sarabia.
If Wolves manage to win the race, McAtee could prove a smart and transformative signing for a club aiming to evolve its attacking style and remain competitive in the Premier League.
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