With the 2024/25 EFL season approaching, teams across the Championship, League One, and League Two are engaging in intense transfer activity to strengthen their squads ahead of the new campaign starting in August.
Luton Town’s John McAtee, who netted 12 goals during his loan at Barnsley in League One last season, has caught the attention of numerous clubs. However, he is currently not in favor at Luton.
| John McAtee 2023/24 stats as per FotMob | |
|---|---|
| Appearances | 40 |
| Starts | 31 |
| Minutes played | 2,625 |
| Pass accuracy (%) | 74.3 |
| Chances created | 40 |
| Expected assists (xA) | 4.41 |
| Assists | 4 |
| Shots | 93 |
| Shots on target | 37 |
| Expected goals (xG) | 12.2 |
| Goals | 12 |
HITC reported that newly-promoted Wrexham have entered the competition to sign John McAtee, but face strong competition from Championship clubs Plymouth Argyle, Blackburn Rovers, and Millwall. Derby County and Portsmouth, both promoted to the Championship last season, are also interested, as well as Bolton Wanderers, who were runners-up in the League One play-offs last season.
In an exclusive comment to Football League World, pundit Carlton Palmer shared his views on which club might be the best fit for the 24-year-old striker.
Palmer makes McAtee claim
The former Sheffield Wednesday player noted: “Wrexham have recently entered the competition to sign Luton Town striker John McAtee. They join Bolton, Plymouth, and Derby, all of whom are keen on securing his services.
McAtee, who is 24 years old, joined Luton in 2022 but has yet to make an appearance for the club. After loan spells at Grimsby and Barnsley, it seems the Hatters are now open to offers for a permanent transfer.
He has made only limited appearances in pre-season for Rob Edwards’ side, and both Luton and McAtee are eager for him to move on. With Luton having several attacking options, it’s challenging for McAtee to break into the starting XI.
The ideal outcome for all parties would be for McAtee to leave. Although a fee hasn’t been set yet, the high level of interest in him is likely to drive up the price.
McAtee needs to secure regular first-team football to continue developing. His stats from last season with Barnsley—42 appearances, 12 goals, and five assists—suggest he could be a valuable addition for teams like Wrexham or Bolton.
Each interested club would need to agree on a fee, but McAtee’s potential makes him a promising prospect. Wrexham, with their recent back-to-back promotions, and Derby, with their strong youth setup under Paul Warne, would both be excellent fits for him. Plymouth might also offer regular playing time, which McAtee needs to continue his development.”
McAtee would be a valuable addition for any club that secures his signing.
With numerous clubs in the Championship and League One showing interest, McAtee has plenty of options this summer, while the Hatters have the flexibility to choose where to offload him.
Edwards and his team might prefer to sell the 24-year-old to one of the interested League One clubs to avoid strengthening a Championship rival. However, McAtee’s goal-scoring record at Barnsley last season indicates he could perform well in either tier next season.