Manchester City youngster James McAtee is one of the number 10s to have been linked with a move to Leeds United ahead of January.
Angus Kinnear confirmed Leeds tried to sign McAtee in the summer but City instead opted to keep him following back-to-back loan spells at Sheffield United.
McAtee was one of several options Leeds considered for that role, with Aston Villa’s Emi Buendia and Sheffield United’s Gustavo Hamer also on the list.
However, not one of those players ended up moving to Elland Road and so Leeds decided against signing a new one.
With the January window now less than two weeks from opening, the number 10 position has once again come into focus, with Farke asked about Leeds‘ prospect of signing one earlier this month.
Guardiola issues McAtee future update amid January Leeds links
Brenden Aaronson has performed fairly well with five goals and one assist this season but the lack of competition for a spot in the starting XI has seen his form drop.
Aaronson has been tasked with starting the last 19 league matches and while his fitness levels allow him to, he has looked tired in recent weeks.
As such, McAtee has been mentioned as a potential target for Leeds amid his lack of game time, with the 22-year-old managing just two minutes of Premier League football so far, both of which came in matches they were already three goals ahead.
Amid his lack of game time even in City’s period of real struggle, Guardiola was asked directly about the prospect of McAtee leaving in January, and his response was pretty emphatic.
He said: “Leave? No I don’t think so… It [refreshing the squad] will be at the end of the season. It depends on how all of us perform. Now is not a reality, we will see the situation at the end of the season.
“What I want is my players back, I have the same feeling that the squad is really good. The problems we have is not about good or bad players. It’s because we lost two important figures for a while, it is what it is.
“Then after, what’s going to happen in winter or the end of the season, the club and myself are going to decide what’s best for the team.”
McAtee’s stance on January City exit
As a boyhood City fan and product of the academy, McAtee is desperate to make things work at the Etihad.
However, his stance over a potential exit is beginning to soften ahead of January due to how much he has been overlooked by Guardiola this season.
Unfortunately for Leeds, interest from Premier League sides West Ham and Crystal Palace, as well as Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen, could be a real stumbling block to a deal.
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