SOCCER
USMNT star Weston McKennie closing in on Premier League move to Leeds United
Leeds United and Juventus are in talks over the possible transfer of USMNT midfielder Weston McKennie, who is wanted by Jesse Marsch.
USMNT star Weston McKennie appears to be on the verge on completing a move to the Premier League from Serie A. Leeds United, managed by fellow American Jesse Marsch, are the club in question and after Italian journalist Matteo Moretto had initially reported the English side’s interest in the player, his countryman Fabrizio Romano has revealed that talks are taking place between the Whites and Juventus over a deal, while McKennie is in discussions over personal terms.
Which other USMNT players play for Leeds United?
Were McKennie to make the move, he would join compatriots Marsch, Tyler Adams and Brenden Aaronson in Yorkshire. Marsh has been in charge at Elland Road since the end of February 2022 and did just enough to keep Leeds in the Premier League last season after a disastrous run of form saw the much-loved Marcelo Bielsa relieved of his duties.
Adams and Aaronson were signed in the 2022 summer transfer window, with Marsh having worked with them at Red Bull Leipzig and Red Bull Salzburg respectively. Adams has been a key figure in the Leeds side this season, starting 18 of their 19 Premier League fixtures, while Aaronson has been named in the first eleven for all 19, although his performances have tailed off slightly after an excellent start.
How are Jesse Marsch’s Leeds faring in the Premier League?
Marsh is desperately looking for reinforcements to ensure the club aren’t involved in another relegation battle come the end of the season. As things stand, Leeds are down in 15th spot in the table, just one point clear of the bottom three, and haven’t won any of their last six Premier League games. McKennie would add proven quality to their midfield and would almost certainly go straight into Marsch’s starting line-up. According to Romano, Azzedine Ounahi, who plays for Angers in Ligue 1 in France and was hugely impressive at the Qatar 2022 World Cup, is Leeds’ alternative target.
McKennie’s current club Juventus have been rocked in the last week or so by a 15-point deduction due to for artificially inflating players’ values for capital gains and may face further punishment for undeclared wage payments. The American joined the Old Lady on loan from Schalke in August 2020 before making the move permanent the following March. McKennie has made 65 appearances for the Italians, scoring eight goals.