Doubts had filled Weston McKennie’s mind about his transfer to Leeds United as he waited by the phone, packing and unpacking his bags in Italy. It was roughly two days after Georginio Rutter’s transfer was confirmed McKennie first heard Victor Orta wanted him at Elland Road.
For the past fortnight, the 24-year-old has been waiting for Leeds and Juventus to thrash out the details on a package which could ultimately cost more than £35m if every bonus is triggered across loan and permanent deals. Initially, the Whites will pay a little over £1m to take McKennie on loan with add-ons up to £220,000 possible between now and the end of the season.
All parties seem confident the move will be made permanent in the summer and that will set Leeds back a fee fractionally over £30m across five years. Performance add-ons could then be triggered up to just shy of £4m.
