Weston McKennie’s deal to join Leeds United from Juventus is edging closer. According to reports, McKennie is in West Yorkshire for a medical and if all goes to plan, he will put pen to paper on his switch from the Serie A giants.
The deal is expected to be a loan initially, with Fabrizio Romano claiming a fee of €1.2million is attached, but Leeds will have the option to buy the American midfielder in the summer for around €33m, with add-ons potentially taking the deal up to €40m. It’s a deal that has got Leeds fans excited as they prepare to welcome a man they have seen regularly play in the Champions League over the last few years.
McKennie also managed to catch the eye at the World Cup with the USA, a team supporters were already paying close attention to in Qatar due to the involvement of Tyler Adams and Brenden Aaronson. As such, he is seen as the ideal man to come in and strengthen Jesse Marsch’s midfield as the Whites move into the second half of the season.
Read more: Jesse Marsch moves step closer to Leeds United wish following Patrick Bamford breakthrough
The deal comes following the Serie A points deduction Juventus were hit with earlier this month. Massimiliano Allegri’s side were docked 15 points following an investigation into their transfer dealings and as a result they currently sit 13th in the table, 30 points off the pace at the top of the league ladder.
Juventus have confirmed their plans to appeal the ruling, but this is still seen as a time of transition for the club and it is accepted that some players may have to be sold in order to balance the books, with qualification for the Champions League now looking extremely unlikely. As such, it seems the loss of McKennie has been acknowledged as necessary by those in Turin, at least that’s according to Italian reporter Stefano Discreti.
Writing for Italian news outlet Calcio Mercato, which is linked to the pink-paged publication La Gazzetta dello Sport, Discreti suggests the fee Juventus stand to earn from McKennie’s eventual sale is too good to turn down.
“The feeling, unfortunately, is that it won't be the last sacrifice needed to raise cash. Indeed, he could be the first of a long list,” he wrote, via Google translate. “Certainly the more than 30 million euros expected for his price tag will lead the fans to not have any kind of regret about it.”
He signs off the piece with: "Ciao McKennie."
Indeed, it seems as though the deal suits all parties, with Leeds landing the midfielder they needed, while Juventus will be planning for a significant and much-needed boost to their financial coffers.
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