FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - Premier League - Leeds United v Leicester City - Elland Road, Leeds, Britain - April 25, 2023 General view of a corner flag inside the stadium before the match REUTERS/Phil Noble/File Photo
Pep Guardiola denied Leeds United the opportunity to sign one of Manchester City’s top midfielders by making it obvious that he wants to keep the player.
The summer transfer season saw a lot of activity in terms of loan agreements for Manchester City’s elite youth players, as the club looks to develop their rising potential in the best way possible and in the greatest environments across Europe.
Among those who have left the Etihad Stadium on temporary contracts is Issa Kabore, who ended his summer training with Pep Guardiola’s side by signing a season-long contract with UEFA Champions League club SL Benfica.
In other news, Callum Doyle has signed a fourth loan deal in the EFL Championship, joining Premier League-chasing Norwich City and started his time in Norfolk by winning the club’s August Player of the Month title.
During an interview with The Square Ball earlier this month, Leeds United CEO Angus Kinnear stated that the Elland Road club expressed interest in Manchester City’s James McAtee during the summer transfer window.
“Two of the other players, looking at the level we were looking at, (James) McAtee at Man City, there was talk he might be released all the way through the (summer transfer) window,” Kinnear told me.
However, Kinnear points out that, despite initial hopes of signing James McAtee, Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola chose to hold the two-time Sheffield United loanee for the rest of the season.
James McAtee made his first Etihad Stadium start for Manchester City on Tuesday night, as he was picked to the starting lineup that defeated Watford in the Carabao Cup third round.
