England Under-21 hero may regret snubbing European giants as Nottingham Forest make transfer ‘decision’

James McAtee may rue his decision to reject Eintracht Frankfurt – his switch to Nottingham Forest is yet to pay off.

That’s the view of European football broadcaster Andy Brassell, who has commented on how close the 23-year-old came to plying his trade in Germany.

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McAtee’s stock was high during the summer transfer window having banged in seven goals from 27 games in all competitions for Manchester City last term.

He then captained England to win the Under-21 European Championship in June, with his displays seeing him named in the Team of the Tournament.

A move to Forest rising to £30million then followed in August – despite visiting Frankfurt’s training facilities.

But he has so far failed to justify his price tag at the City Ground having been reduced to just ten outings.

Just six of his appearances have been in the Premier League, with his one and only start in the top-flight coming in the 1-0 defeat to Sunderland on September 27.

Since that fixture – the sixth gameweek of the campaign – he has been limited to a mere 22 minutes in the league spread across two substitute appearances.

But despite his lack of game time, the Telegraph have reported that the Tricky Trees are unwilling to part ways with the versatile attacking midfielder during the winter transfer window.

Nott giving up

For Brassell, he believes that McAtee may regret his decision to snub a move to Deutsche Bank Park in favour of remaining in England.

At Frankfurt, the ex-Sheffield United loan star would have been guaranteed a regular place in the line-up.

And he would have also been testing himself in the Champions League – featuring in glamour ties away at Atletico Madrid, Barcelona and Napoli.

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McAtee was one of two notable players to reject Frankfurt along with Jobe Bellingham, who opted to join their Bundesliga rivals in Borussia Dortmund.

Though Brassell has suggested that a move to the Eagles cannot be ruled out down the line.

Discussing Frankfurt’s failed pursuit of the Salford native, Brassell told talkSPORT.com: “They were close last summer on both Jobe Bellingham and James McAtee.

“They both came to see Eintracht Frankfurt, looked around the facilities, met [Markus] Krosche [Frankfurt Sporting Director] and the management and they were super impressed.

“But they were super impressed without actually signing.

“So, in the end, of course, Jobe chose to follow in his brother’s footsteps and go to Dortmund.

“And James McAtee went to Nottingham Forest, which I wonder if he slightly regrets now.

“Maybe, maybe down the line if he can’t get game time at Forest, there’s a loan move to Eintracht Frankfurt ahead of him, maybe that’s a possibility.”

McAtee, who was an unused substitute in Forest’s 2-1 defeat against former employers City on Saturday, will be hoping for a return to action on Tuesday.

Forest welcome Everton to the City Ground as they look to extend their five-point gap above the relegation zone.