Report: Manchester City have just rejected Wolves offer to sign their ‘special’ 20-year-old

Manchester City have reportedly rejected approaches for young midfielder James McAtee this summer.

McAtee is one of City’s most highly-rated academy graduates, but he spent last season on loan at Sheffield United.

City and Pep Guardiola did not want to loan the youngster out, as they felt he had a clear pathway to the first team.

However, the Salford-born midfielder was keen to play regular first-team minutes and insisted on a move.

McAtee impressed at Bramall Lane, scoring nine goals and providing three assists as Sheffield United clinched promotion to the Premier League.

Having underlined his talent in the Championship, McAtee has travelled to Japan as part of City’s pre-season tour and will try to convince Guardiola that he deserves regular first-team minutes this season.

Wolves want McAtee

However, it wasn’t just McAtee’s parent club who were reminded of his potential.

Several clubs have shown an interest in signing the England youth international, both on loan and permanently.

City are reluctant to sanction a move at present and certainly don’t want to sell the youngster, described as a ‘special player’ by Guardiola.

It has previously been reported that the Blues rejected a £30m offer for McAtee.

Now, it appears that City have turned down both loan and purchase offers from Premier League side Wolverhampton Wanderers.

As reported in the Daily Mail’s Transfer Confidential newsletter, Wolves are expected to sell Daniel Podence this summer amid interest from European and Saudi Arabian clubs.

Julen Lopetegui’s side view McAtee as a potential replacement, and have asked about signing him on loan or on a permanent deal.

According to the Mail, “the 20-year-old is not short of admirers following his loan spell at Sheffield United last season, who also remain keen.”

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Wolves actually unconvinced about ‘magnificent’ 23-year-old, he’s set to leave

Ryan Giles is reportedly set to join Luton Town, with Wolves reportedly unconvinced about his defensive qualities.

The 23-year-old enjoyed a fantastic season on loan at Middlesbrough in 2022/23.

He made 48 appearances for Boro, and laid on 12 assists in all competitions.

His 11 in the Championship was a league-high, and his effectiveness in the final third has led to a number of clubs showing interest in him this summer.

Some Wolves fans had wondered if Giles might finally see some minutes for the first-team in the new season.

But that doesn’t look like it’s going to happen.

Wolves set to sell Ryan Giles after having reservations about his defensive qualities

According to The Athletic, Wolves are now ready to make a tough call on the academy graduate.

It is stated that Wolves have watched the 23-year-old ‘extensively’. But officials ‘remain unconvinced that his defensive qualities are what they want for the rigours of the Premier League’.

Currently, Wanderers are in talks with West Ham United over a potential deal for Aaron Cresswell.

Cresswell is of course much more experienced than Giles.

He’s been a reliable performer in the Premier League for years. And supposedly, the club see him as a really good mentor for Hugo Bueno.

TEAMtalk reported at the weekend that Luton had beaten Boro to Giles.

They’ve apparently agreed a fee with Wolves of £4 million plus add-ons.

That will come as a blow to Boro boss Michael Carrick. he was very taken with Giles last term, saying of him at one point: “Obviously, right now, there’s nothing more to report on it, but Ryan has been magnificent for us. He’s obviously caused a lot of problems going forward, but he’s also improved an awful lot on his defending.”

Player marketing manager Matt Jackson also said earlier this year that Giles had gotten a lot better defensively.

Seemingly, his defending hasn’t quite improved enough.

It would be a shame to see Giles leave

So it looks as though Giles could be about to depart – and that’s a real shame.

He was absolutely brilliant last season for Boro.

But he was mainly playing as a wing-back, and Wolves no longer play with such a system.

Maybe since Wolves have Rayan Ait-Nouri, the club feel comfortable in letting Giles depart, since the pair have fairly similar profiles.

It remains to be seen if Giles can wrap up his proposed move to Luton.

If he does, then it will be fascinating to see how he gets on, with Luton now in the Premier League of course.