Sky Germany reporter Florian Plettenberg says Leeds United may have to pay as much as £35m for Weston McKennie from Juventus this month, with the club said to be in talks to land the USA star in the final week of the January window.
McKennie, 24, has regularly been linked with a move to the Premier League. Now, it appears that Leeds are on pole to nab his signature. That is despite interest, as reported by Corriere Dello Sport, from Premier League leaders Arsenal.
CBS Sports reporter Ben Jacobs says that McKennie is happy to join Leeds, though. That is apparently after staging talks with Leeds boss Jesse Marsch – and his close friend Tyler Adams. McKennie recently spoke about that relationship.
Now, talking on the Sky Sports Transfer Show, well-informed German reporter Plettenberg gave insight into McKennie. He says that having covered Dortmund’s interest in McKennie, Juventus are ‘demanding’ between £26.5m and £35m.
“We hear that it is a price tag between €30m (£26.5m) and €40m (£35m). That is the price Juventus are demanding for McKennie. He is not going to Dortmund,” Plettenberg reported on Tuesday evening, on Sky Sports Transfer Show.
Plettenberg: Leeds may have to pay as much as £35m for McKennie
Signing McKennie could be the final piece in the jigsaw. Coming into the January window, Leeds fans wanted the left-back issue sorted – and a striker signed. They have brought in Max Wober, who can play on the left of the defence.
But with Wober impressing at centre-back, it keeps Pascal Struijk at centre-back. A striker has also been brought in, in the form of French wonderkid Georginio Rutter for a club-record £35m. The next issue, is strength in depth in midfield.
So, signing McKennie would be the cherry on top of what has been a superb window for Leeds. McKennie is a top-class midfielder. One that has a super connection with Adams – years in the making, and at USA level. The ideal signing.
