According to the latest reports from transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, Leeds United are currently holding talks with Serie A giants Juventus over a move for USA national team star Weston McKennie.
Talks ongoing between Leeds United and Juventus on conditions of Weston McKennie deal. Discussions also on player side over personal terms. ⚪️🇺🇸 #LUFC
The other option for Leeds is Azzedine Ounahi from Angers. pic.twitter.com/ZApMtWMfk0
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) January 24, 2023
As noted in a recent tweet, Fabrizio Romano details that talks are underway between the Whites and Juventus over a possible move that would see Weston McKennie link up with his USMNT international team mates Tyler Adams and Brendan Aaronson at Elland Road.
McKennie, 24, spoke with 90min.com before USA’s 2022 World Cup campaign in Qatar, detailing his “special relationship” with Leeds star and USA captain Tyler Adams:
“One of the things, as far as me and Tyler, have learned about each other is that he does all the running and I do all the playing. No, I’m just kidding!”
“But I think just us being together for as long as we have and knowing each other for so long, we’ve, I think, developed a relationship that we know each other’s tendencies, we know each other’s abilities, we know each other’s strengths and weaknesses and how to cover for one another.”
McKennie’s confidence in his midfield partnership with Adams proved to be fair during the World Cup, with USA being one of the tournament’s unexpectedly strong sides – something that Leeds’ American head coach Jesse Marsch is certain to be acutely aware of.
McKennie signed for Juventus in 2020 from Bundesliga side Schalke 04. Since then he has featured 65 times for Italy’s ‘Old Lady’, scoring 8 goals. He is considered a very good midfielder, and would bring quality and depth to a Leeds midfield which does look a little short since the departure of Mateusz Klich to DC United.
If Leeds are seriously keen on landing McKennie, they’ll face stiff competition from Premier League opposition, with speculation that Arsenal are interested in the 24 year old [Daily Mail].
With the San Francisco 49ers expected to complete a full takeover of Leeds in the coming months, it is interesting to see the growth in the club’s ties to USA football developing. That’s not intended as a criticism, as both Tyler Adams and Brendan Aaronson have been very good signings.
We’ll see how this one goes, but with word coming from Fabrizio Romano, we’ll be hoping for a “Here We Go” tweet before the transfer window’s deadline next Tuesday.