Celtic have been linked with a lot of names in this window. One name that has been garnering attention is James McAtee, a young talent currently on the radar of the Scottish Champions. The reported Celtic transfer target has been making waves at his current club Manchester City, catching the eye of Pep Guardiola.

In the past seven days, the Daily Mail reported that Celtic is among several teams closely monitoring McAtee’s situation as Manchester City mulls over the possibility of sending the promising midfielder out on a development loan. This move could provide McAtee with more playing time and experience.

McAtee’s potential has not gone unnoticed by Guardiola, who recently included him in first-team activities. The young midfielder even made his English Premier League debut for Manchester City in a match against Burnley, where he came on as a late substitute in their convincing 3-0 victory. This not only speaks to McAtee’s abilities but also to the faith Guardiola has in his talent.

Such is McAtee’s impact that he has now secured a spot in Manchester City’s 22-man travelling squad for the highly anticipated UEFA Super Cup showdown against Sevilla in Athens. In this select squad, he finds himself rubbing shoulders with established stars who were pivotal in winning the treble for the Manchester outfit last season.

With Guardiola potentially seeing him as a viable option for first-team squad depth, convincing Manchester City to part ways, even temporarily, could be difficult.

McAtee’s journey to this point has been characterised by hard work and determination. Notably, he played a pivotal role in Sheffield United’s promotion bid during the previous season, making an impressive 37 appearances while scoring nine goals. This experience in a competitive environment has undoubtedly contributed to his growth as a player and could be a crucial factor in Celtic’s pursuit of his signature.

One factor that might work in Celtic’s favour is their relationship with Manchester City and the City Group. This positive rapport could potentially facilitate negotiations and aid in securing McAtee’s services. Mark Lawwell, the Head of Recruitment at Celtic, is a figure who understands the intricacies of Manchester City, having spent a decade working there prior to his current role at Celtic.

Celtic have some positions to fill at the moment, and the midfield area isn’t pressing. Celtic fans would much rather see a goalkeeper, left-back, and left-sided winger come in before the window closes.