Arsenal, Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur could be willing to offer €40 million to secure the services of Weston McKennie from Juventus in the summer.
According to Tutto Juve, Juventus and US Men’s National Team midfielder Weston McKennie is attracting strong interest from the Premier League. Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United are said to be admirers of the 23-year-old, with the three clubs willing to shell out €40 million to sign him.
McKennie came through the youth academy of FC Schalke 04 after moving from the United States at a very young age. Having progressed through the ranks, the midfielder became a regular at the first-team level for the German giants, establishing himself as one of the most exciting young talents in the Bundesliga.
Juventus came calling for McKennie during the summer of 2020, signing him on loan with an option to make the transfer permanent. The 23-year-old was one of the few positives for the Italian heavyweights in a disappointing 2020/21 campaign under Andrea Pirlo, which prompted the Bianconeri to trigger the permanent purchase clause.
However, McKennie has found game-time hard to come by under Massimiliano Allegri this time out. The 23-year-old has featured in only 28 matches across all competitions for Juventus, although he has been out of action since February due to an injury. Even then, the Turin giants are open to the prospect of selling him in the summer, with Arsenal, Newcastle and Tottenham showing interest.
Arsenal had been linked with McKennie in the past and the interest seems to have been rekindled as Mikel Arteta is keen on adding more quality to his midfield. Thomas Partey and Granit Xhaka are established starters for the Gunners, but beyond the pair, there is not much quality. Albert Sambi Lokonga is still getting used to the demands of English football, while Mohamed Elneny’s contract expires next month.
So, a new midfielder is high on the agenda at Arsenal, with McKennie emerging as a target, while his Juventus teammate, Arthur Melo, is also on the radars of the north London club. However, they will have to face competition from arch-rivals Tottenham Hotspur, who also hold a long-standing interest in McKennie.
With Antonio Conte set to sanction the permanent departures of Tanguy Ndombele, Giovani Lo Celso and Harry Winks, there will be room for a new midfielder in the squad. And Tottenham director Fabio Paratici knows McKennie intimately, having signed him at Juventus a couple of years ago, with the Italian again pushing for his signing.
Newcastle United are also in the hunt for McKennie as they look to strengthen their roster across all areas of the pitch ahead of a potential push for a top-six finish next season. The 23-year-old can be an alternative for Joelinton and Bruno Guimaraes, who have been top-notch for the Magpies this season.
As per the report, Arsenal, Newcastle and Tottenham are open to offering €40 million for McKennie’s signing, as they see him as a good investment while the clubs also can afford his salary without any hassles. It remains to be seen if they make a formal approach for the 23-year-old USMNT star.