Chelsea are keeping close tabs on Juventus star Weston McKennie
According to Givemesport, Premier League giants Chelsea are interested in securing the services of Juventus midfielder Weston McKennie.
The USMNT star joined the Bianconeri from the German side Schalke in 2020. He spent the first season on loan at the Allianz Stadium before making the switch permanent a year later. McKennie has since made 90 appearances for the Turin giants, scoring 13 goals and assisting four more.
A central midfielder who can also play on the right, the 24-year-old is an energetic presence in the middle of the park. A willing runner who is technically proficient, McKennie has the makings of a box-to-box star who can thrive under the right guidance.
While he has had moments of magic in Turin, McKennie has largely disappointed. Massimiliano Allegri’s men appear to lack direction and are far from the pre-eminent force in Italian football they once were. The American international is one of the players who has struggled to stand out and now runs the risk of stagnating.
A move abroad could be just the tonic McKennie needs to rekindle his career. Chelsea are in the market for midfielders and face an overhaul of sorts on their roster in that department. N’Golo Kante and Jorginho aren’t just getting older but are also in the final years of their contract. With no signs of them renewing yet, the Blues might need to account for several additions next summer.
While Chelsea will still have Mateo Kovacic, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Conor Gallagher and Carney Chukwuemeka in their ranks, the lack of experience in the quartet is quite apparent. Adding McKennie will address the issue to an extent while also providing the American with the opportunity to get his career back on track.
A good finisher who is also solid when it comes to tracking back, McKennie can be the all-action midfielder Chelsea need in the middle of the park. The 24-year-old still has several issues to iron out from his game, and working under Graham Potter could do him wonders. The former Brighton man has proven himself to be an excellent developer of talent and could nurture McKennie’s potential.
Bringing in an American star also makes sense from a business viewpoint given that Chelsea’s new owners are from the USA. With Christian Pulisic’s future far from certain, it could be a case of one USMNT star making way for another at Stamford Bridge next summer.
Premier League sides Newcastle United and Arsenal are also showing keen interest in McKennie and could be poised to make a move. Chelsea raided Juventus last summer, bringing in Denis Zakaria on loan. The Swiss ace has, however, struggled. The Blues will hope that they have better luck with McKennie, should he end up at the Bridge.
