Juventus are seriously considering Axel Witsel to replace Weston McKennie, amid interest from Aston Villa and Tottenham, after an intermediary offered the Belgian, per Sky Italia.
Witsel has been on the Bianconeri’s radar for five-years after carrying out a medical in 2016 before Zenit St Petersburg pulled the plug on his move at the last moment. He may now get his Turin transfer, as an agent is working to secure his route out of Borussia Dortmund.
Witsel is in the final year of his contract, and BVB chiefs have given him permission to leave the Westfalenstadion. Juventus are giving signing the 32-year-old to replace McKennie serious thought as his Bundesliga outfit will only demand minimal compensation.
Additionally, Witsel is ready to give his okay to the transfer, as the midfielder has always been a Bianconeri supporter. The 114-cap international also admires Massimiliano Allegri, who returned to Turin this summer. But Juventus only want to sign Witsel if he is replacing McKennie, amid rumoured interest from Aston Villa and Tottenham.
Sky Italia note Spurs Managing Director Fabio Paratici is eying McKennie after orchestrating his move to Turin last year. Tuttosport also cite Tottenham’s interest in the American, and note Paratici has discussed Moussa Sissoko or Tanguy Ndombele in part-exchange.
But Aston Villa have made Juventus a straight-cash offer for McKennie, per Calciomercato, which appeals to the Bianconeri more. The Serie A giants value the former Schalke ace at €30m-35m (£25.5m-30m), after Allegri decided he wants an alternative option.
Reports by TuttoMercatoWEB also suggest Crystal Palace could rival Tottenham and Aston Villa for McKennie. The Italian publication add the 22-year-old has struggled to adapt to Allegri’s tactical approach since replacing Andrea Pirlo in charge.
Aston Villa or Tottenham to sign McKennie amid Witsel to Juventus development?
Witsel has long been an obsession for Juventus and Calciomercato reported they could sign him to replace McKennie, amid Aston Villa and Tottenham’s interest in the midfielder. The Belgian’s chances of moving to Turin are now progressing, but relies on the American.
Dean Smith or Nuno Espirito Santo should not hesitate to sign McKennie, despite TMW’s claim of his struggles under Allegri. The 24-cap USMNT international is a dynamic box-to-box presence who performed magnificently in his first year in Italy. He scored six goals and offered two assists in 46 games to convince the Bianconeri to trigger a £16m clause.
USA coach Gregg Berhalter additionally holds McKennie in very high regard and lauds his physical build. He said, via The Guardian: “You’re looking at him and thinking: ‘This guy could easily have been an NFL athlete’. He’s an unbelievable athlete.
“He’s messing around with the ball and the Cleveland guys from the Browns were there watching him as well. They were like, ‘Oh my God, this is amazing.’”
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