Manchester United now interested in ‘special’ Manchester City player amid Jason Wilcox connection

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Manchester United could launch a shock raid on Manchester City in an attempt to bolster Ruben Amorim’s squad.

The summer transfer window is drawing closer and Manchester United appear to be making very early moves.

Reports suggest that United want Matheus Cunha and Liam Delap from Wolverhampton Wanderers and Ipswich Town respectively.

Both players have release clauses in their contracts and United are planning to trigger those deals when the transfer window opens.

United still need other signings this summer, though, and Jason Wilcox could launch a raid on Manchester City.

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Manchester United eye Manchester City’s James McAtee

The Telegraph now report that United are interested in Manchester City playmaker James McAtee.

Kevin De Bruyne is leaving City this summer, and Pep Guardiola is eyeing Nottingham Forest’s Morgan Gibbs-White or Bayer Leverkusen’s Florian Wirtz as a replacement.

That may push McAtee towards the exit door, especially as a sale would go down as pure profit for City.

Intriguingly, Forest and Leverkusen fancy signing McAtee to replace Gibbs-White or Wirtz if they do join City this summer.

Newcastle United and AC Milan are also credited with an interest, but the suggestions that United would like to sign McAtee are very interesting.

McAtee hails from Salford and was actually on the books at Old Trafford before heading across Manchester.

The Telegraph noted in 2016 that City pinched McAtee from United, and compared the situation to Ryan Giggs swapping City for United in the 1980’s.

United looked into signing McAtee in 2021, but the talented playmaker stayed with City.

Now approaching the summer window, United are back in for McAtee, with the 22-year-old entering the final year of his City deal.

Position	Team	Played MP	Won W	Drawn D	Lost L	For GF	Against GA	Diff GD	Points Pts
12	Crystal PalaceCrystal Palace	33	11	11	11	41	45	-4	44
13	EvertonEverton	33	8	14	11	34	40	-6	38
14	Man UtdManchester United	33	10	8	15	38	46	-8	38
15	WolvesWolves	33	11	5	17	48	61	-13	38
16	TottenhamTottenham	33	11	4	18	61	51	10	37

Jason Wilcox could be key to United’s McAtee chase

Reports in February suggested that United would focus on signing ex-City talents moving forward.

The aforementioned Delap fits the bill, whilst United have looked at goalkeeper James Trafford, who joined Burnley from City in 2023.

McAtee is now another City academy graduate on the United radar, with Jason Wilcox undoubtedly playing a key role.

Wilcox serves as United’s technical director and saw plenty of McAtee’s development during his time as City’s academy director.

The Daily Mail reported in 2023 that Southampton – with Wilcox serving as director of football – wanted to sign McAtee.

No deal was done, but Wilcox may now look to finally sign McAtee, who has been hailed as a ‘special player’ in comments Pep Guardiola gave to BBC Sport.