£25 million-rated Juventus midfielder Weston McKennie turned down Aston Villa in 2021 but could finally end up in the Premier League with Tottenham Hotspur, according to Calciomercato.
Is this the most talented crop of footballers ever to feature for the USA at a World Cup?
Ahead of Monday’s Group B opener with Wales, USMNT coach Gregg Berhalter can choose his line up from a squad made up of players representing the likes of Arsenal, AC Milan, Chelsea, Borussia Dortmund, Celtic, Valencia, Lille and Juventus.
McKennie, at just 24, is already one of the most capped members of this up-and-coming side. He is expected to start against Gareth Bale, Aaron Ramsey and co. That is despite being in-and-out of a resurgent Juventus team in recent weeks.
McKennie may even find himself playing for his future in Qatar. According to Calciomercato, Juve are open to offers for the former Schalke enforcer. That is, presuming someone is willing to stump up around £25 million for a player who, while energetic, tenacious and versatile, arguably does not possess the requisite technique to really thrive at the heart of a Juventus midfield.
Tottenham like Juventus’ former Aston Villa target Weston McKennie
The report adds that Tottenham ‘remain attentive’ to McKennie’s situation. Spurs chief Fabio Paratici was a key figure in the American’s move to Turin during the summer of 2020.
“McKennie is a very exuberant and very intelligent boy. He has been in Europe for several years,” Paratici once said of the Texas-born former Schalke favourite.
“We have high expectations on of him because he is a boy who is already at a good level.”
McKennie, who can play in an attacking or a defensive role in the centre of the park and possesses a more-than-respectable goalscoring record, turned down a number of offers in order to fight for his place at Juventus a year or so ago.
Monaco held talks. Aston Villa, CM add, were in pole position at the time. McKennie, then, is unlikely to give up on his Juventus career without a fight.
“Weston McKennie is a phenomenally gifted player,” says former USA, Spurs and Aston Villa goalkeeper Brad Friedel. “Really good. In my opinion, he’s our best player.”
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