Newcastle United have identified a popular Premier League attacker as a potential January signing.
The Magpies have been quiet in the January transfer window so far. Newcastle’s sporting director Paul Mitchell only has one youth signing with a week left in the window – Irish striker Kyle Fitzgerald will join Newcastle on January 28, his 18th birthday.
With PSR still a problem on Tyneside, signings in the January transfer window have not been of high importance.
That has not stopped them from retaining an interest in Manchester City attacker James McAtee who has garnered interest from clubs all across Europe. Eddie Howe needs attacking players with Miguel Almiron set to leave Newcastle before the window closes.
McAtee has impressed in short stints for Man City this season, recently scoring in their 6-0 win against Ipswich Town in the Premier League.
Newcastle currently sit sixth in the league table and need as many bodies as possible to help their chances of qualifying for the Champions League. Newcastle have been linked with McAtee alongside clubs in Germany.
Man City were listening to offers for £25m rated McAtee, but with the club in poor form, Pep Guardiola looks like he also wants as many quality players as possible to help them out of their slump.
While Man City continue to struggle for consistency, Guardiola has dropped his fresh verdict on how he feels about McAtee leaving the club.
Pep Guardiola makes James McAtee admission
Guardiola has previously spoken about McAtee’s possible exit in January. He said that there was hope Man City could “keep McAtee for many years.”
The 22-year-old has garnered praise from many figures around the Premier League for his performances this season. Even a Newcastle legend recently had his say on McAtee.
Alan Shearer said McAtee is “excellent” after he scored a hat-trick against Salford in the FA Cup. The England under-21s star has scored five goals in all competitions so far this season.
Guardiola held his pre-match press conference which aired on Man City’s website where he was asked about McAtee’s future at the club.
“I would love (McAtee) to stay here.
“I repeat again; it was not the last four or five months, in Sheffield (United) he was not quite often playing, and I was the one who relied on him to stay and to come back, to come back, to come back.
“I wanted him to stay! But what’s going to happen, like on potential new incomings, I don’t know.”
Guardiola’s comments have left the door open for Newcastle to make an approach before the transfer window closes.
- READ MORE – What Pep Guardiola has said about James McAtee’s future as Newcastle United target ‘special’ signing
Newcastle face tough competition for McAtee
While McAtee is on Newcastle’s radar, it will not be easy as he has attracted interest from elsewhere.
As well as Newcastle, Fulham are interested in McAtee but as it stands no offer has been made for the attacker yet.
It is believed that McAtee is eager for more game time but may only get that if he makes the move away from Man City in January.
It is clear that Guardiola rates McAtee. However, there is little opportunity for him to play big minutes every week due to the quality Guardiola has available to him.
McAtee played in Man City’s defeat to PSG in midweek, coming off the bench as his side lost 4-2.
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