Leeds United may still face a battle to keep Weston McKennie with other clubs interested in signing the on-loan Juventus midfielder.
That’s according to transfer insider Dean Jones, who has been speaking to Give Me Sport about McKennie’s future.
Jones claims that other clubs are still interested in signing McKennie this summer in case it doesn’t work out at Leeds.
Jones does think that things could still work out for Leeds in terms of keeping McKennie – if they stay in the Premier League.
“I mean, there’s still other interest out there for him, but if Leeds turn the corner and Gracia puts him at the centre of the project, I think it could actually still turn out well,” said Jones.
Leeds secured a late deal for McKennie, taking him on loan with the option of a €33million (£29million) permanent deal this summer.
There have been some mentions of that deal turning permanent after a certain number of appearances, but Fabrizio Romano was adamant that the permanent clause is an option and not an obligation.
That means a long-term future for McKennie isn’t absolutely nailed-on just yet – and other clubs seemingly know it.
Arsenal target Weston McKennie already going through changes at Leeds United
McKennie was a pretty exciting signing for Leeds.
The Juventus midfielder has a pretty decent profile in Europe so luring him to Elland Road despite the relegation battle was a big coup.
Yet McKennie was signed under his fellow American Jesse Marsch, which may well have tempted McKennie to Elland Road.
Just a week later though, McKennie was rocked as Marsch was sacked as Leeds manager.
Javi Gracia is the new man in the Leeds dugout and whilst he will surely rely on McKennie, it’s an unexpected change for the midfielder.
Other clubs may well look to benefit from that upheaval by dangling a potential move elsewhere.
Corriere dello Sport reported just days before that late deal that Arsenal were trying to hijack McKennie’s move to Leeds.
Arsenal ended up signing Jorginho instead but maybe they’re one of the clubs still interested in McKennie.
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