Southampton have identified £20 million-rated Schalke star Weston McKennie as the man capable of replacing Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg at St Mary’s, according to Kicker.
With Tottenham holding talks and Everton seeing a bid accepted, it would be a major shock now if a classy Danish midfielder ever dons those red and white stripes again (Telegraph).
Hojbjerg was left out of the Southampton squad for Sunday’s 3-1 final day triumph over Sheffield United, after being stripped of the captaincy due to his refusal to extend a contract which expires in 2021,
But if Saints fans were worried about life without the former Bayern Munich wonderkid, they can at least take some consolation in knowing that the South Coast giants have a plan in place – and a replacement lined up.
Reports in Germany say that McKennie could be on his way to England this summer.
Southampton have joined Leicester City, Newcastle United and more in expressing an interest in the £20 million-rated USA international.
Like Hojbjerg, McKennie is an all-action, adaptable footballer who is as effective with the ball as he is without it. The latter is far more versatile than the former too, shining not only in central midfield but also at full-back.
And Hasenhuttl, a former RB Leipzig and Ingolstadt coach, knows McKennie like the back of his hand from his time in the Bundesliga.
“(McKennie) is an outstanding talent,” Schalke boss David Wagner told Fox recently, via the Bundesliga website.
“In the No.6 or No.8 position he has the mentality, a real working mentality that you need. And he’s brave on the ball as well.”
Chelsea winger Christian Pulisic is also a huge fan of his USMNT team-mate, calling McKennie a ‘dominant presence’ who ‘wins everything’ from his box-to-box role.
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