Crystal Palace eye Manchester City attacking midfielder ahead of January window – Lyon attacker also under consideration

EXCLUSIVE
BY EDMUND BRACK
edmund@slpmedia.co.uk

Crystal Palace have added Manchester City attacking midfielder James McAtee to their list of targets ahead of the winter transfer window.

The England U21 international wants to leave Pep Guardiola’s side this January and would cost a fee in the region of £20 million.

Palace are intent on signing attacking players to help out boss Oliver Glasner, with the Eagles 19th in the Premier League heading into tomorrow’s home clash against Newcastle.

McAtee spent two seasons on loan with Sheffield United, playing 37 times and picking up 12 goal contributions, as they won promotion to the Premier League under Paul Heckingbottom in the 2022-23 campaign.

The 22-year-old returned to Bramall Lane for the following season and featured 30 times in the top flight.

McAtee has only played one minute in the Premier League this season for City – coming on as a late substitute in the 4-1 win at Ipswich in August. He scored his first City goal in their 4-0 away win in the Champions League this season against Slovan Bratislava.

Fulham and West Ham have both been linked with a move for McAtee in recent weeks.

The Eagles are also monitoring Lyon attacker Rayan Cherki ahead of the window opening.

Palace majority owner John Textor needs to sell the 21-year-old after Lyon, another side who are part of his Eagles Football Group ownership, were provisionally relegated to Ligue 2 unless they improve their finances.

The South Londoners wanted Cherki, with Fulham also interested, in the summer, but he was not keen on a move to the Premier League at the time.

Cherki, 22, has played more than 150 times for the French seven-time Ligue 1 side at senior level, scoring 20 times and picking up 28 assists.

French giants PSG and German side Borussia Dortmund are both keeping tabs on Cherki ahead of a possible Lyon firesale.

Eberechi Eze is ready to come back into the starting line-up for tomorrow’s game against Newcastle after missing the 2-2 draw at Aston Villa due to manager Glasner not wanting to rush the Greenwich-born attacker back early from his hamstring injury.

Adam Wharton (groin surgery) and Eddie Nketiah (hamstring) are both nearing a return to full fitness.

PICTURES: ALAMY