Nottingham Forest Close in on £20m Move for Man City’s James McAtee

Nottingham Forest are close to signing James McAtee from Manchester City for more than £20 million. The agreement is expected soon.

WHAT HAPPENED?

Forest are moving quickly to sign the 22-year-old after earlier bids were rejected. Talks are now down to the final details. Forest want to add creativity to Nuno Espírito Santo’s midfield before the Premier League season starts. City wanted to get the most value for McAtee and turned down lower offers in July. A £25 million bid was previously rejected, and Nottingham Forest is reportedly preparing a new bid for the young midfielder, as per a recent update.

WHY FOREST WANT MCATEE

Forest want McAtee to replace lost attacking power and add flexibility in midfield and forward areas. This move is part of Forest’s plan to strengthen the team, including the signing of Dan Ndoye, who joined from Bologna for €40 million, with an extra €5 million in performance-related bonuses. They aim to improve their position in the league standings after finishing 7th last season, which qualified them for the Conference League.

THE BIGGER PICTURE

McAtee is highly rated from City’s academy but didn’t get much playing time because of strong competition. City were clear about only selling for the highest value. Forest see McAtee fitting well in Nuno’s system. Initial reports said City wanted closer to £35 million, but they seem to have settled for a bit over £20 million, aligning with Nottingham Forest’s interest in obtaining him for a significant fee.

FORM AND ROLE THIS SEASON

McAtee showed promise in his limited appearances for City. At Forest, he is expected to play an attacking midfield role, supporting the front three. Forest want to improve their league position and move deep into European competitions this season. McAtee’s creativity could be crucial in creating chances and offering set-piece variety.

WHAT NEXT?

Forest need to complete medicals and paperwork before the Premier League starts. They hope to announce the deal soon. If completed in time, McAtee could play in Forest’s first league match against mid-table rivals. These early matches can be crucial for Forest’s improvement as they strive for a successful season.