Man City Braces for £25m McAtee Bid from Premier League Rival as Guardiola Trims Squad

Nottingham Forest Set to Launch £25m Bid for Man City’s James McAtee as Gibbs-White Heads to Spurs
By Simon Jones | Updated: 15:55 BST, 11 July 2025

Nottingham Forest are preparing an opening £25 million bid for Manchester City forward James McAtee, with Morgan Gibbs-White nearing a move to Tottenham. The Premier League club is also pursuing Brentford’s Yoane Wissa, though their initial offer for the Congolese striker has fallen short of the Bees’ valuation.

[James McAtee has made 18 Premier League appearances for Manchester City, scoring three goals.]

McAtee, 22, is entering the final year of his contract at City and has attracted interest from Borussia Dortmund, Eintracht Frankfurt, and Serie A clubs. Forest, however, are pushing to secure the versatile midfielder, who can operate as a No. 10 or winger. The England U21 captain recently led his side to a second consecutive European Championship title, adding to his rising profile.

Pep Guardiola’s squad overhaul has accelerated McAtee’s potential exit, with City already signing Rayan Cherki, Tijjani Reijnders, and Rayan Ait-Nouri this offseason. McAtee, a City academy graduate since 2013, spent two productive loan spells at Sheffield United and contributed three goals in 18 Premier League games last season.

[McAtee starred in England U21s’ Euro triumph, scoring once and providing two assists.]

Forest’s pursuit aligns with their ambitions under Nuno Espirito Santo, who will guide the club into European competition next season for the first time since 1996. The potential arrival of McAtee would offset the loss of Gibbs-White, a key creative force, as Tottenham finalize a deal for the 24-year-old.

Meanwhile, Forest’s bid for Brentford’s Yoane Wissa remains unresolved. The Congolese striker, who scored 19 league goals last season, is valued at over £50 million by Brentford. Forest’s latest offer—reportedly lower than their winter bid of £25 million—has been dismissed, but talks could intensify as the transfer window progresses.

[Yoane Wissa’s 19-goal campaign has made him a top target for Forest.]

McAtee’s potential signing signals Forest’s intent to bolster their attack ahead of a demanding European schedule. With Gibbs-White departing, his creativity and versatility would provide crucial depth. The midfielder’s pedigree at City and leadership with England’s youth teams add further appeal.

[Nuno Espirito Santo aims to strengthen Forest’s squad for their Europa Conference League campaign.]

As the transfer saga unfolds, Forest fans await decisive moves in a window that could define their season. With McAtee’s future hinging on City’s willingness to negotiate and Wissa’s price tag posing a challenge, Forest’s recruitment team faces a pivotal few weeks.

Stay tuned for updates on this developing story.