According to Di Marzio, Leeds United are very close to securing a deal for American midfielder Weston McKennie.
The reporter says that Leeds have made another approach for McKennie and are confident of securing this deal in the coming days.
Di Marzio adds that while a deal could take a few days to iron out, the final approval could come in the next few hours.
The 24-year-old, who currently plays for Juventus, had also been linked with a late move to Arsenal, but it looks like Leeds have won the race for his signature.
If the deal goes through, it would be one of Leeds’ biggest-ever signings, with the reported transfer fee close to £30m.
McKennie is a versatile midfielder who can play as either a number eight or a number six, and he had a strong World Cup campaign with the US national team in Qatar, where he demonstrated just how good he could be in the Premier League with a brilliant showing against England.
He is known for his aggressive style of play and his ability to read the game well, which makes him an ideal fit for Jesse Marsch’s all-action side.
The move would also see McKennie linking up with fellow Americans Tyler Adams, Jesse Marsch and Brendan Aaronson at Leeds.
Marsch has a strong track record of developing American talent throughout his career, and he will no doubt be excited by the prospect of working with McKennie.
Leeds United are currently in danger of being sucked into a relegation battle, they are currently 15th in the league table, but after a busy January they’ll be hoping to leave any idea of a bottom-three finish behind.
With the January transfer window closing in a few days, it seems that a deal for McKennie could be completed soon, that is, as long as there is no late hijack from a club like Arsenal.
If McKennie does join, Leeds may well be seen as the winners of this transfer window after landing Georginio Rutter, Max Wober and now McKennie.
The future may well be bright at Elland Road.
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