---
title: "Leeds: Beren Cross shares James McAtee update"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/leeds-beren-cross-james-mcatee-transfer-update/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Charlie Smith"
section: "Leeds United News"
published: "2022-06-21T12:40:01Z"
modified: "2022-06-21T12:40:01Z"
---

# Leeds: Beren Cross shares James McAtee update

**[Leeds United](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/leeds-united-news/) correspondent [Beren Cross](https://www.leeds-live.co.uk/sport/leeds-united/leeds-united-raphinha-arsenal-transfer-24272013#comments-wrapper) has stated that the club are yet to make an offer for Manchester City attacker James McAtee.**

### The Lowdown: McAtee links

The Whites are thought to be ‘very keen’ on a move for McAtee, according to [The Athletic](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/leeds-united-news/leeds-the-athletic-transfer-news-james-mcatee/).

The 19-year-old, described as [‘exceptional’](https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/man-city-guardiola-palmer-mcatee-22231699) by Pep Guardiola, has contributed to [46 goals in 52 games](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/james-mcatee/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/583199) for City’s U23s and has made [six](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/james-mcatee/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/583199) senior appearances at the Etihad.

City could look to use youngsters as makeweights in a move for Leeds star Kalvin Phillips, although they [reportedly](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/leeds-united-news/leeds-the-athletic-transfer-news-james-mcatee/) don’t want to lose McAtee.

### The Latest: Cross shares update

Cross, responding to a Whites fan in a Q&A for [LeedsLive](https://www.leeds-live.co.uk/sport/leeds-united/leeds-united-raphinha-arsenal-transfer-24272013#comments-wrapper), provided updates on Manchester City duo McAtee and midfielder Romeo Lavia, who has also been [linked](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/leeds-united-news/leeds-whites-have-an-interest-in-youngster-romeo-lavia-transfer-marsch-raphinha/) with an exit from Eastlands.

He claimed that Leeds ‘like them’ but ‘right now’, there is only a ‘basic interest’, with no offers made as of yet.

[![Latest Leeds United news!](https://cdn.footballtransfertavern.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/cropped-2022-03-10T184055Z_1834933207_UP1EI3A1FW561_RTRMADP_3_SOCCER-ENGLAND-LEE-AVA-REPORT-1-scaled-1.jpg)](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/latest-leeds-united-news-45/)

> “On Lavia and McAtee, Leeds like them as players, but so do a great many clubs across the PL and Championship, if not further afield too. I understand there are offers on the table for neither right now. I don’t believe there’s much beyond a basic interest in them currently.”

### The Verdict: Unlikely?

McAtee appears to be extremely highly rated by City officials having already broken into Guardiola’s star-studded squad, so a move to Elland Road does seem unlikely at this stage.

A swoop for holding midfielder Lavia could be the more realistic addition, with his route to first-team football possibly suffering a setback should Phillips join City.

\[freshpress-poll id=”400311″\]

Leeds need to be careful about City potentially looking to drive Phillips’ price down by including a youngster, though, and you’d expect there could be further developments over the coming weeks.

***In other news: [Orta now working on signing 31-goal striker for free; famous Leeds fan may help Elland Road move.](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/leeds-united-news/leeds-united-transfer-news-erik-botheim/)***