This summer it will probably be made or break for the talent of Manchester City, James McATee.
The England U21 International has long been considered a wonderfully creative presence for club and country; Pep Guardiola, however, never really came close to the 22-year-old the minutes he needs to settle.
Indeed, during the 2024/25 campaign, although his record will show that he made 17 performances for the first team, there were only five of them as a starter, and his 522 total minutes – fewer than six total matches – were among the least amount in the team.
James McATee Radar Graphic 2024/25
That is likely to explain its poor status of 30.8% shooting accuracy, although his 23.1% Scot Conversion Latis was actually the best in the entire MAN City team last season.
No one else the fault than Pep
Guardiola was the first to admit that McATee's misery was a direct consequence of not being played enough.
“We didn't see enough this season (from James) because I didn't allow him to play minutes,” said Pep in April.
“I can't ask anything like this if they don't play many minutes.
“I understand, the players want more minutes. I understand that.
“He trains very well, plays in different positions and I like him, but we'll see.”
West Ham an ideal destination for McATee
Stopping an unambiguous 'he is not for sale', should be sufficient of an indication that Pep will not be in McATEE's way if he finally decides to go after he gave the city the benefit of his career development for the last few seasons.
West Ham is strongly connected to the player, and after selling Mohammed Kudus earlier this summer, Graham Potter can certainly do with a creative presence that can also weigh with his fair share of goals. However, they do have competition from other interested parties.
To date, Potter does not seem to be the head coach who had expected the hammers to receive.
Since the acquisition of Julen Lopetegui at the back of 2024, the former Brighton & Hove Albion -Man -Man -Man -Man has won only five of the 18 games that he has supervised, and the other five for a profit percentage of 27.8%.
That is even worse than the 31.8%of Lopetegui, and given the way in which the Spaniard was hunted out of work, the position of West Ham would be an interesting conversation to see.
Predictable hammers need renewed impulse
18 matches is more than enough time to impose a certain way of working, and the predictability that the East Londers showed in many competitions last season suggests that the players still don't have to grow exactly what Potter needs.
That is why a movement is useful for McATee, as long as the figures are not too priceless.
James McATee Premier League Pass Map 2024/25Opta by Statspleform
His ability to consistently break the lines, find room for themselves and play in others is exactly what the hammers need. Less a surprise element, but more a skill to turn the script in games that might start to escape from Potter's men.
Although he does not have the physicality of Kudus, McATee is certainly just as skilled in beating players and being in the right place at the right time.
James Mcatee Attacking wears in the Premier League 2024/25
The 86.5% pass accuracy of last season's city man would immediately place him in the best passers of the ball in West Ham, and to switch it on because an eight or 10 would contribute considerably to their attacking intention.
Was next to Lucas Paqueta in a new look that Hammers Midfield would certainly be a delicious prospect for supporters, although Potter also has to strengthen elsewhere if he got the best out of Mcatee.
Significant reinforcement required
The signing of El Hadji Malick Diouf is a step in the right direction, but that one signing is not really enough to get the Claret and Blue Masses too excited. Especially when their Premier League opposite hangers all add considerably to their gratings.
Man City will apparently demand £ 35 million for the services of the U21 captain of England, which is not cheap when one considered how little he was used in the Etihad Stadium.
Pep Guardiola on James Mcatee
However, if Potter wants some idea about what the attacking midfielder could put on his side of West Ham, he only has to judge the ties of the U21 -European Championship of the summer to understand how McATEE flourished then the responsibility to get his way to get his way and get them in those dangerous areas.
The bonus is of course that he can also add something to the goals considerably and helps columns, and will almost certainly be the chance to play for a club in West Ham that has always been respected for playing football in 'the right way'.