Man City star James McAtee in demand! Wolves eye £25m swoop for midfielder but face intense competition from Bayer Leverkusen, Borussia Dortmund and five Premier League clubs

According to Birmingham World, Wolves have placed McAtee high on their list of priority signings as they prepare for a squad reshuffle. As the club anticipates the departure of Matheus Cunha, who is reportedly close to finalising a £62.5 million ($84m) switch to Manchester United, and with Pablo Sarabia’s contract running down, the need for fresh attacking creativity has become urgent.

Wolves are far from alone in their admiration for the 22-year-old as a host of Premier League and European clubs have been monitoring McAtee’s situation at the Etihad. Newcastle United, West Ham, Nottingham Forest, Crystal Palace, and Leeds United have all been linked with the midfielder in recent months. Abroad, the competition is even more intense. Bundesliga giants Bayer Leverkusen and Borussia Dortmund are reportedly in the race, joined by RB Leipzig and Serie A sides Fiorentina and Bologna.

McAtee has made notable strides in the 2024–25 season, making nine starts and several additional appearances from the bench for Manchester City across all competitions. The midfielder has clocked 936 minutes of playing time and found the net seven times, including a standout performance in the FA Cup, where he scored a hat-trick in an 8-0 rout over Salford City last November.

City may have little choice but to consider offers for McAtee this summer. With just a year remaining on his contract, City risk losing the academy graduate for nothing in 2026 if they fail to secure a new deal. The club is thought to value him in the £25m ($34m) range — a price that suits Wolves’ current transfer ambitions, especially with Cunha’s departure expected to generate a significant windfall.