Leeds United are in advanced talks with Juventus over a deal for Weston McKennie, who has told friends he is heading to Elland Road.
According to Football Insider, Leeds United are closing in on a stunning swoop to sign Weston McKennie from Juventus. The Serie A giants are keen to offload the 24-year-old in the wake of recent financial turmoil at the club.
Following the Bianconeri’s 15-point deduction after they were found to have inflated transfer fees for players as part of a tax scam, the Old Lady of Turin’s hopes of finishing in the Champions League positions in Serie A are in serious jeopardy.
In light of the club’s recent upheaval, several players are expected to leave the Allianz Stadium in the coming months. With the emergence of midfield talents Nicolo Fagioli and Fabio Miretti, McKennie is very high on Juventus’s chopping list as they look to balance their books lately.
McKennie has become Leeds’s top target only this week as Jesse Marsch looks to reinforce his midfield following the departure of Polish midfielder Mateusz Klich to MLS outfit DC United. And Fabrizio Romano has reported that Leeds’s talks to sign the midfielder have progressed well in the last 24 hours.
Leeds United are pushing to get Weston McKennie deal done as soon as possible. Talks continue with Juventus after positive contacts on Thursday. ⚪️🇺🇸 #LUFC
McKennie has agreed personal terms with Leeds days ago but it's not done deal between clubs yet. pic.twitter.com/bbqgjz6SIv
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) January 27, 2023
The United States international is ready to swap life near the top of the Serie A table for a Premier League relegation scrap at Elland Road. The 24-year-old has given the green light to a Yorkshire move, having already agreed to personal terms.
Juventus and Leeds have been engaged in talks over the payment structure of the fee and potential add-ons in recent days. And the deal is now believed to be at an advanced stage. The Whites are said to have raised their proposal on Thursday to £24.6 million plus add-ons, which could bring the overall package closer to Juventus’ £30.7 million asking price.
Leeds were indeed unwilling to meet Juventus’s high asking price and initially proposed a loan-to-buy offer followed by a lowball bid for the 24-year-old. But with less than a week until the end of the January window, as well as losing ground in the race to sign Azzedine Ounahi, they know they must get their act together to provide Jesse Marsch with a new midfielder.
Football Insider is now reporting that the Juventus man has told close friends that he is leaving the Serie A giants to join Leeds, having cleared out his locker at the training ground as well. The report also reveals that a medical will be booked imminently for the USA international.
The Peacocks already have a strong American contingent at the heart of the club, including Jesse Marsch and Tyler Adams – who partnered McKennie in midfield at the World Cup – and Brenden Aaronson.
Given there was late interest in McKennie from Arsenal, getting their hands on the energetic midfielder would be a bit of a coup for Leeds as the deal edges closer and closer to being completed in the coming days.
