According to sources, Manchester City has rejected the offer for 22-year-old McAtee, who made only 15 Premier League appearances last season. The club's manager, Pep Guardiola, has already signed new players this summer, including Rayan Cherki and Tijjani Reijnders, and midfielder Rodri has returned from injury. This means that McAtee may not get the playing time he needs to develop his skills at the club.

McAtee had a great performance with the England U21 team at the recent European Championships, scoring one goal and providing two assists. Forest likely knows that he is open to a move elsewhere, and after being rejected, other teams like Tottenham and Everton might make bids for the playmaker in the coming days.

It's worth noting that McAtee's development at Manchester City might be limited due to the club's existing midfield options. This could make him a target for other teams looking to strengthen their midfield.