US national team midfielder Weston McKennie has been at Italian club Juventus since joining Turin in the summer of 2020, first on loan and then on a permanent deal a year later.
Although he’s developed during his time with the Italian giants, there have been plenty of bumps in the road, and it might be time for the 24-year-old to move on.
Juventus were rocked in January by a 15-point penalty in the Serie A table due to a financial scandal which has now impacted the club’s transfer plans as the Old Lady is unlikely to get a place in the lucrative Champions League next season.
Premier League clubs could look to take advantage of the situation. McKennie’s contract expires in the summer of 2025, meaning he has two and a half years left on his contract with Juventus from January.
According to the latest rumours, a few Premier League sides could be set to bring McKennie to England, which could put him squarely in the middle of a title charge or a relegation fight.
Latest McKennie transfer news
According to several reports, the Premier League team Leeds United are interested in bringing Weston McKennie to Elland Road to help them in their relegation battle. Gianluca DiMarzio, Fabrice Romanoet Matthew Moretto all reported that Leeds were in contact with McKennie’s representatives and inquired about the player.
Leeds manager Jesse Marsch, who is a fellow American, has already made contact with Weston McKennie to make a move into Juventus midfield. The report says Marsch explained exactly how McKennie would fit in at Leeds and how he would be used at the Premier League club.
January 24, Di Marzio reported that McKennie gave his approval for a move to Leeds, which is interesting given that there were earlier reports that he didn’t want to leave Juventus for a drop in the club’s pedigree.
Leeds face a relegation battle, sitting 15th in the league on 18 points, just one point above the drop zone. According to the same reports, Leeds are simultaneously pursuing Moroccan midfielder Azzedine Ounahi, who impressed at the World Cup last December.
McKennie to Premier League rumors
According to information in Italy, in particular from Sports GazetteSeveral Premier League clubs have contacted Weston McKennie’s agent in hopes of securing a move for the American in January.
The report indicates that Arsenal, Aston Villa et Fulham have all been in contact with the agent and the club to find out if a transfer is viable. He also says that Juventus have set an asking price of between €20m and €25m for the total transfer fee.
However, the report also mentions that McKennie would like to stay at Juventus unless a ‘better club’ makes an offer. Clearly Premier League leaders Arsenal are closest to this bill, but McKennie is unlikely to be anything more than a replacement for the trio of Thomas Partey, Granit Xhaka and Martin Odegaard who are all in exceptional shape right now.
A move to Fulham would seem the most logical, given the club’s American connection and first-half status, but a place in European football still seems unlikely for the top-flight Cottagers and it would be something McKennie doesn’t want. . to be missed.
Finally, the report states that German side Borussia Dortmund and French club AS Monaco both made inquiries over the summer, but not much came of that awareness.
There have also been links with Liverpool in the past, as recently as the aftermath of the 2022 World Cup. The daily mail named McKennie as a possible loan option for the Reds, who are desperate for midfield options due to injuries and poor form.
Weston McKennie contract, salary at Juventus
By joining Juventus permanently from Schalke in the summer of 2021, Weston McKennie signed a four-year contract which until summer 2025.
This means he still has a decent amount of time left on his current contract, which probably provides leverage for Juventus in any negotiations.
According to Sports Gazette in 2020, while McKennie was on loan at Juventus, the American was on a salary of around €2.5m a year. This was before signing his permanent contract, which allows him to win 3.2 million euros per year, according to Capology.
