Weston McKennie transfer news: Latest on Leeds, Arsenal reportedly chasing USMNT, Juventus midfielder

U.S. national team midfielder Weston McKennie has been at Italian club Juventus since moving to Turin in the summer of 2020, first on loan and then via a permanent deal a year later.

While he has developed during his time with the Italian giants, there have been plenty of bumps in the road, and it could be time for the 24-year-old to move on.

Juventus were rocked in January by a 15-point penalty in the Serie A table due to a financial scandal that has now impacted the club’s transfer plans, since it’s unlikely that the Old Lady will secure a place in the lucrative Champions League next season.

Premier League clubs could look to take advantage of the situation. McKennie’s contract expires in the summer of 2025, meaning he has two-and-a-half years remaining on his Juventus deal as of this January.

According to the latest rumors, a few Premier League sides could be ready to bring McKennie to England, which could place him squarely in the middle of a title charge or a relegation fight.

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Latest McKennie transfer news

According to several reports, Premier League side Leeds United are interested in bringing Weston McKennie to Elland Road to help in their relegation battle. Gianluca Di Marzio, Fabrizio Romano, and Matteo Moretto have all reported that Leeds are in contact with McKennie’s representatives and that they have enquired about the player.

Leeds manager Jesse Marsch, who is a fellow American, has already made contact with Weston McKennie to make a pitch to the Juventus midfielder. The report states that Marsch has explained exactly how McKennie would fit at Leeds and how he would be used at the Premier League club.

Leeds are facing a relegation battle, sitting 15th in the league with 18 points, just one point above the drop zone. According to the same reports, Leeds are simultaneously chasing Moroccan midfielder Azzedine Ounahi, who impressed at the World Cup this past December.

McKennie to Premier League rumors

According to reports in Italy, including from Gazzetto dello Sport, multiple Premier League clubs have made contact with Weston McKennie’s agent hoping to secure a move for the American this January.

The report states that Arsenal, Aston Villa, and Fulham have all been in contact with the agent and club to feel out whether a transfer is viable. It also states that Juventus have set an asking price of between €20-25 million for a total transfer fee.

However, the report also mentions that McKennie would like to stay at Juventus unless a “top club” makes an offer. Obviously, Premier League leaders Arsenal are closest to fitting that bill, but it’s unlikely McKennie would be anything more than a backup to the trio of Thomas Partey, Granit Xhaka, and Martin Odegaard who are all in exceptional form at the moment.

A move to Fulham would seem to make the most sense, given the club’s American connection and status as a top-half side, but a place in European football still seems unlikely for the high-flying Cottagers and that would be something McKennie does not want to miss out on.

Finally, the report states that German side Borussia Dortmund and French club AS Monaco both made enquiries in the summer, but not much resulted from that outreach.

There have also been links to Liverpool in the past, as recent as in the aftermath of the 2022 World Cup. The Daily Mail named McKennie as a possible loan option for the Reds, who are in desperate need of midfield options due to injuries and poor form.

Weston McKennie contract, salary at Juventus

Upon joining Juventus permanently from Schalke in the summer of 2021, Weston McKennie signed a four-year contract which runs through the summer of 2025.

This means he still has a decent amount of time remaining on his current deal, which likely provides Juventus leverage in any negotiations. 

According to Gazzetto dello Sport in 2020, while McKennie was on loan at Juventus, the American was on wages of around €2.5 million per year. That was before signing his permanent contract, which sees him earning €3.2 million per year, according to Capology.