Report: Tottenham now ready to pay up for exceptional dribbler everyone loves
Tottenham Hotspur are preparing to make a serious move for Manchester City’s promising attacking midfielder James McAtee, with reports suggesting the North London club are ready to meet the £40 million valuation for the highly-rated 22-year-old.
As Spurs look to strengthen their squad ahead of their Champions League campaign, McAtee has emerged as an ideal target to provide creativity and depth in the final third.
The young Englishman’s versatility makes him particularly appealing to manager Thomas Frank.
Capable of operating centrally as an attacking midfielder or drifting wide to influence play from the flanks, McAtee possesses the technical quality and vision to unlock defenses attributes that would help compensate for James Maddison’s absence as he recovers from injury.
His ability to both create and score goals would add a new dimension to Tottenham’s attack, offering Frank different tactical options.
For McAtee, the potential move represents a crucial career decision. Despite his obvious talent, regular first-team opportunities at Manchester City remain limited due to their star-studded squad.
A switch to Tottenham would guarantee more minutes at the highest level, including Champions League football a platform that could accelerate his development and boost his chances of breaking into Gareth Southgate’s England squad.
The £40 million price tag reflects McAtee’s potential rather than his current output, but Spurs’ willingness to meet City’s valuation demonstrates their belief in his ability to grow into a key player.
His impressive performances for England’s U-21 side during this summer’s European Championships underlined his quality against top young talent, suggesting he’s ready to make the step up to consistent Premier League football.
From City’s perspective, the proposed deal makes financial sense for a player who has found first-team opportunities scarce.
For Tottenham, it represents a calculated gamble on a player whose best years are ahead of him—one who could flourish under Frank’s guidance just as Bryan Mbeumo and Yoane Wissa did at Brentford.
As negotiations potentially develop in coming weeks, this transfer could benefit all parties. McAtee gets the playing time he needs to fulfill his potential, City secures a respectable fee for an academy product, and Tottenham acquires a versatile attacker who could become a mainstay in their new-look side.
In a market where homegrown talent commands premium prices, this may prove to be one of the more astute deals of the summer.