Premier League Chief Explains How Leicester City Brutally Rejected Target
Sheffield United chief executive Stephen Bettis has publicly revealed how the signing of Manchester City youngster James McAtee came about which includes a brutal rejection of Leicester City.
McAtee spent all of last season at Bramall Lane under head coach Paul Heckingbottom as the Blades gained automatic promotion to the Premier League by finishing second in the Championship with 91 points, ten behind title-winners Burnley.Sheffield United chief executive Stephen Bettis has publicly detailed how Manchester City teenager James McAtee was signed, including a stinging rejection from Leicester City.
McAtee spent the whole 2018-19 season at Bramall Lane under head coach toPaul Heckingbotm, helping the Blades to automatic promotion to the Premier League by finishing second in the Championship with 91 points, ten points behind title-winners Burnley.
The midfielder was a crucial player for Sheffield United, scoring nine goals in 37 games in England’s second division, but it appeared that recently-relegated Leicester City were the favourites to sign him on loan for the 2023/24 season.
In reality, Bettis confirmed that McAtee was in Leicester with his agent at noon on Thursday but had his heart set on playing in the Premier League.
Bettis told Yorkshire Live [quotes via Leicestershire Live]:
“We tried and tried and tried. He was in Leicester on Thursday noon when the window closed.
“He and his agent are in a car, calling me and saying, ‘book us into a hotel, Stephen, because we’re telling them he’s coming to you and playing Premier League football.'” James wishes to visit you’.
“When I came to the ground for the Everton match I was stopped about four times by fans asking, ‘why didn’t you sign him before 12 noon?’. I stayed up until 1 a.m. sending everything to Man City. It wasn’t finished until 1.30 p.m.”
McAtee, the promising young talent, eventually signed for the Blades for another season on transfer deadline day last Friday.
Writer’s View
It’s hard to blame McAtee for preferring a return to Bramall Lane after such a successful loan spell last term, especially now that Sheffield United were playing Premier League football.
However, Leicester City can certainly feel hard done by given that the player was with the club just 24 hours before the transfer window closed.
Author’s Opinion
After such a good loan stay last season, it’s difficult to blame McAtee for choosing a return to Bramall Lane, especially now that Sheffield United are playing Premier League football.
Leicester City, on the other hand, must feel cheated, given that the player was only with the club for 24 hours before the transfer window closed.
