Aston Villa are rivalling Tottenham Hotspur to sign Weston McKennie after Juventus made the American midfielder available for a late-window transfer, according to Calciomercato.
Massimiliano Allegri is working to reshape the Bianconeri engine room after returning to Turin this summer. Former Arsenal star Aaron Ramsey has topped the Italian’s chopping block all window, but the Welshman remains at the Allianz Stadium as suitors stay clear.
Allegri has now given Juventus permission to start shopping McKennie around, believing the 22-year-old is not best-suited to his system. But faces a challenge, as the 24-cap USMNT international is not yet convinced to leave the Serie A giants just a year after joining.
McKennie joined Juventus from Schalke last summer and could return to the Bundesliga or move to the Premier League, with Bayern Munich, Aston Villa and Tottenham all potential destinations. Tuttosport have also recently reported Spurs’ interest in the Texas native.
Tottenham Managing Director Fabio Paratici is driving the north Londoner’s interest in McKennie after singing him for Juventus from Schalke. However, Spurs would propose a swap deal involving Tanguy Ndombele, while Dean Smith’s Villans can present a cash bid.
Aston Villa’s straight-cash offer appeals the most to Juventus, as they value McKennie at €30m-35m (£25.5m-30m). But the American also turned Smith down last year, when he left Schalke for the Old Lady. He immediately accepted the Bianconeri’s initial loan offer, and completed a permanent £16m move in March after an impressive start.
Bayern Munich, meanwhile, would be interested in McKennie should Corentin Tolisso leave the Allianz Arena. While Everton are also considering a move to sign US Soccer’s 2020 Male Player of the Year. Although the price Juventus demand has so far prevented any transfers.
Should Aston Villa sign Tottenham target McKennie from Juventus?
McKennie would be a great addition if Aston Villa can edge interest from Tottenham to sign the Juventus midfielder. But Smith may have his work cut out to convince the American to join, given he rejected Villa last year.
That should not stop the Villans from testing the Turin waters, with McKennie’s stock on the up and up. He is the fourth-youngest winner of US Soccer’s Male Player of the Year award – voted by national coaches and players.
McKennie also made an unbelievable impact under Andrea Pirlo last season, stepping in at the Turin giants and thriving. He scored five goals and two assists in 34 Serie A outings, and netted against Barcelona in the Champions League.
His former Schalke manager David Wagner also lauds McKennie for being an ‘outstanding talent’, via Bundesliga.com. While USA coach Gregg Berhalter considers the brave, versatile and dynamic engine room star to be ‘unique’. Perfect for the Premier League, perhaps.
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