Arsenal have reportedly initiated contact to acquire the service of Juventus midfielder Weston McKennie in January.
According to a report by Gazzetta dello Sport, Arsenal have submitted an enquiry for Juventus midfielder Weston McKennie. The Gunners want to invest in a central midfielder in the January transfer window.
Mikel Arteta’s men are currently flying high and have opened up a five-point lead at the top with a game in hand. Having already signed Leandro Trossard from Brighton & Hove Albion, they are on the verge of sealing a transfer for defender Jakub Kiwior from Spezia.
The USMNT international has been ever-present for Serie A giants Juventus, as he has been deployed in multiple positions in the midfield. The Bianconeri are on the lookout for a winger but must offload players to enhance their spending capacity.
McKennie is believed to be on the transfer wishlist. But the 24-year-old is willing to leave Turin only for a reputed club in Europe. Arsenal’s recent run of form has made them a pretty coveted name around the world. And McKennie would be able to do justice to his talent should he arrive at the Emirates.
Time is running out for the Gunners as the Bianconeri will negotiate a transfer for a fee of between €20-25 million. Juventus have already been docked 15 points due to their financial irregularities, and they are unlikely to make it to Europe unless something drastic happens. They will have to manage their transfer dealings pretty delicately as they have been under the scanner.
Both Thomas Partey and Granit Xhaka are overburdened in the middle of the pitch. So Mikel Arteta needs Arsenal to sign a midfielder to take some load off the first-choice duo. Mohamed Elneny is carrying an injury, and Arteta does not have many players at his disposal.
McKennie’s energy and ball-carrying ability will be an added advantage. And the player has been a quick learner. Their knack for having a compact squad hurt them the most when Tottenham Hotspur leapfrogged them to the European spot last season. Borussia Dortmund are also a keen admirer of the player, but Arsenal remain in pole position to land the player.
