Nottingham Forest's significant summer investment in midfielder James McAtee is attracting unexpected attention, with Leeds United and Chelsea among several clubs monitoring the player's unsettled situation.
A Turbulent Start at The City Ground
The 23-year-old England Under-21 international joined Forest from Manchester City in a deal worth £30 million during the recent transfer window. However, his impact has been limited in the early months of his tenure. McAtee has managed just 10 appearances this season, with several of those coming from the substitutes' bench.
His lack of consistent game time has been compounded by instability within the club's management. In his short five months at the club, McAtee has already worked under three different managers. Most recently, he was an unused substitute in Forest's Saturday defeat to his former club, Manchester City.
Despite the challenging start, Forest's hierarchy and current manager Sean Dyche are said to hold the player in high regard and believe he has a bright future at the City Ground. The club's public stance is one of patience and long-term planning.
Growing Interest from Domestic Rivals
The player's limited involvement has not gone unnoticed elsewhere. Leeds United have held a long-term interest in McAtee and were actively seeking a creative 'number 10' style midfielder in January after failing to secure a move for Fulham's Harry Wilson at the end of the summer window.
More surprisingly, Chelsea are also keeping a close watch on developments. Blues' boss Enzo Maresca is a known admirer of McAtee, having worked with him during their shared time at Manchester City. At the Etihad, McAtee was part of a talented youth cohort that included current Chelsea star Cole Palmer and Liam Delap.
Chelsea's interest in midfield reinforcements is broad. The club is also looking at McAtee's Forest teammate Elliot Anderson and Crystal Palace's Adam Wharton for potential summer moves. Their approach appears exploratory, having also shown interest in Bournemouth forward Antoine Semenyo before stepping back last week.
Widespread Scrutiny from Home and Abroad
The list of potential suitors extends far beyond Elland Road and Stamford Bridge. Bournemouth, who fear losing Semenyo to Manchester City, are considering a loan move for McAtee. Fellow Premier League side Fulham and Championship club Sunderland are also weighing up the possibility of a temporary deal.
Interest is also strong from the continent, with a host of European clubs tracking the situation. In Germany, Bundesliga sides Stuttgart, RB Leipzig, Bayer Leverkusen, and Eintracht Frankfurt are all keeping a watching brief. Portuguese giants FC Porto and Dutch champions PSV Eindhoven are also listed among McAtee's admirers.
The coming months will be crucial for McAtee's future. While Nottingham Forest remain publicly committed to their investment, the sheer volume of clubs monitoring his progress indicates that the January transfer window could see significant movement if his game time does not increase substantially under Sean Dyche.
