Reports of Leeds United’s interest Weston McKennie are gathering pace.. The Whites are believed to be considering adding to their midfield ranks over the next few days with McKennie being the latest option explored.
Personal terms won’t be an issue, according to Fabrizio Romano, but Leeds haven’t agreed a deal with Juventus for the American just yet and they have just six days before the transfer window slams shut. Juventus may well be reluctant to lose McKennie, given he has started most games for them this season, but it’s a deal that seems to make sense for Leeds if the money is right.
He more than fits the bill in terms of ability and talent, but his personal circumstances look favourable, too, as Leeds reach out through familiar lines of communication. McKennie is represented by the Wasserman agency, an organisation that looks after the interests of some of the world’s best and most talented players.
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Manchester City trio Aymeric Laporte, Nathan Ake and John Stones are three of the most notable names on their roster, while Real Madrid’s Federico Valverde, Borussia Dortmund’s Gio Reyna and Leicester City winger Harvey Barnes are also on the books. However, Leeds currently have seven players who are clients of Wasserman, including two of their most high-profile summer recruits.
Both Brenden Aaronson and Luis Sinisterra are signed to the agency and the smoothness of their moves to Elland Road last year are enough to suggest the club have a good relationship with Wasserman. Sam Greenwood and Crysencio Summerville, who recently signed new deals with United, also have the same representatives, alongside Adam Forshaw, Mateo Joseph and Under-18s player Ben Andreucci.
It seems Leeds deal with Wasserman agents on a regular basis, then, and that might stand them in good stead when it comes to getting McKennie over the line. Of course, the agency has hundreds of players on their books, but Leeds seem to have more than most clubs.
In fact, according to Transfermarkt, League One outfit Barnsley are the only club with more Wasserman clients, and that’s a move that seems unlikely at this point in time. The 24-year-old’s nationality also seems to be another factor in the switch, with Leeds taking on an American influence over the last year.
McKennie knows Tyler Adams well, of course, having played alongside him in midfield for the USA on a number of occasions and the same can be said for Aaronson. Adams and McKennie looked to have a solid partnership and understanding during the World Cup and that would be something most would like to see in action in West Yorkshire.
Jesse Marsch will have undoubtedly crossed paths with the Texan during his time coaching in Germany and the States. McKennie is someone Victor Orta knows well, too, having monitored him since his time with Schalke 04.
Leeds are believed to be content with their squad and won’t be forced to pay over the odds for anyone in the final days of the window, but McKennie is someone that, on the face of it, stacks up as a viable option.
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