West Ham and Crystal Palace ‘desperate’ to hold talks over ‘special’ Man City star Guardiola has barely used

Context? Things are messy for Man City right now. After a seven-game winless run, the squad is looking a bit frail, with Pep Guardiola (52) struggling to get his top players to click. Amid this crisis, one guy’s been strangely ignored: James McAtee (21).

Keep in mind: The 21-year-old has barely seen the pitch this season – just one minute in the Premier League. Yet, West Ham and Crystal Palace are now desperate to snatch him up this January.

The Inside Gist? West Ham reportedly want McAtee as a replacement for the disgruntled Lucas Paquetá (26), while Crystal Palace are looking to bolster their midfield options. Both clubs are circling like vultures, ready to talk transfer terms.

Clock this: Despite his limited minutes (just seven appearances this season with one goal), McAtee’s been one of the standout talents at City’s academy.

Guardiola (52) himself has described him as “special,” so why’s he being left on the sidelines? It’s a mystery, especially when you compare his potential to the inconsistent performances of Bernardo Silva (29), Phil Foden (24), and even Jack Grealish (29).

Picture this: With Liverpool now 11 points clear at the top, City are in a race against time to revamp their squad. And that might just include McAtee moving on loan or permanently if Pep doesn’t start giving him more opportunities. Guardiola (52) has been reluctant to use him, and now it’s time to face the music.

Inside Scoop: McAtee’s future could come down to this January window. West Ham and Crystal Palace are leading the charge, but don’t sleep on interest from clubs overseas – McAtee reportedly has a total of 11 clubs interested, some of them from abroad. So, what’s the next move for City?

Will Pep finally see the value in giving him a chance, or will he be sold off to one of these clubs?

Keep in mind: If McAtee does leave, City can’t just let him go for a one-off fee. They need to negotiate a buy-back clause or sell-on clause. If they don’t, we could be looking at another “missed opportunity” situation like the Jadon Sancho (24) transfer saga.

Let’s just hope City don’t regret this one.