Leeds United correspondent Beren Cross has stated that the club are yet to make an offer for Manchester City attacker James McAtee.  

The Whites are thought to be ‘very keen’ on a move for McAtee, according to The Athletic.

The 19-year-old, described as 'exceptional' by Pep Guardiola, has contributed to 46 goals in 52 games for City’s U23s and has made six senior appearances at the Etihad.

City could look to use youngsters as makeweights in a move for Leeds star Kalvin Phillips, although they reportedly don’t want to lose McAtee.

The Latest: Cross shares update

Cross, responding to a Whites fan in a Q&A for LeedsLive, provided updates on Manchester City duo McAtee and midfielder Romeo Lavia, who has also been linked 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.

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“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.

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.