Arsenal are one of the two teams interested in Weston McKennie before Tuesday’s transfer deadline…
What’s the word?
That’s according to Corriere dello Sport (via Sport Witness), who claim the Gunners are rivalling fellow Premier League outfit Leeds United for his signature.
It’s thought that Juventus would be open to selling the 24-year-old midfielder this window and would not reject a deal worth around €30m (£26m).
Other reports have also suggested that the American’s representatives have been in London this week, meeting with Whites chief Andrea Radrizzani, whilst Fulham, Aston Villa and AFC Bournemouth have also been credited with interest in the past.
A great depth option for Arteta
The north London outfit have now targeted the late addition of a new central midfielder after the recent injury blow to Mohamed Elneny, leaving manager Mikel Arteta hugely light on options outside of his first-choice duo Granit Xhaka and Thomas Partey.
In fact, the Spaniard has even alluded to the situation in a recent press conference, where he said:
“We need some more cover in midfield ideally if we can. In this market, it’s pretty complicated to do that. The most important thing is that we get the performances and the time on the pitch that we need with the players we have available today that are already really good.”
It’s clear that McKennie could be an ideal third January signing for the club, having already secured moves for winger Leandro Trossard and defender Jakub Kiwior.
Once described as an “outstanding talent” by his former Schalke 04 boss David Wagner, the USMNT international could provide the Gunners with immense versatility to play in a multitude of midfield roles, ranging from a no.6 to no.8, with him even playing out wide during the recent World Cup.
An average of 1.43 blocks, 1.27 clearances and 1.27 tackles per 90, combined with his top 16% ranking for touches in the opposition box, non-penalty goals and progressive passes received per 90 – when compared to other midfielders across Europe’s top five divisions – suggests that he’s got it all and that could be of huge use to Arteta, given his lack of depth right now.
It’s also perhaps why the American has been lauded as a “machine” and as a “monster” by both professional footballer Sebastian Velasquez and writer Wes Rucker.
McKennie has also been compared to three great midfielders in Gennaro Gattuso, N’Golo Kante and Arturo Vidal. “McKennie has something of Gattuso, but also of Kanté and Vidal. As they say here: Beauty and the Beast. Beauty and the beast both need to win,” once claimed Alexi Lalas.
As such, a move for the Juventus dynamo could be a really smart deal for sporting director Edu Gaspar to make before next Tuesday’s transfer deadline, given the evidence above.
AND in other news, Edu eyeing a perfect Rice alternative at Arsenal in £100m “machine”, he’s Kante-esque…