With the January transfer window quickly coming to a close in the near future, teams across the Premier League are preparing their final bids to bolster their squads for the rest of the season.
One of those teams is Leeds United who have already added defender Max Wober from Red Bull Salzburg and Hoffenheim striker Georginio Rutter but are yet to sign a central midfielder, an area that some agree is key for manager Jesse Marsch going forward.
One of the many names the Whites have been linked with is USA international Weston McKennie who has reportedly already agreed personal terms with Leeds.
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His move to Yorkshire would see him reunited with compatriots Tyler Adams and Brenden Aaronson in midfield under American manager Marsch, and would further strength the ties the club has with the US.
Here we take a look at the latest star linked with a move to Elland Road...
Who is he?
After being born in the United States, Weston McKennie began his career in Germany after living there with his father John at an Air Force base in Kaiserslauten.
There, he played for the local club FC Phönix Otterbach until he moved back to the USA where he continued playing before being picked up by MLS side FC Dallas. He played in their youth setup for seven years before moving to Schalke in the Bundesliga.
The German outfit was where he truly began to make his mark, as he found eight goal involvements in his first season with Schalke Under-19s squad. His impressive first season saw him break into the senior team at just 19 years old.
Despite a goalless 2017/18 season where he played a part in leading Schalke to Champions League football, his shooting boots returned in the 2018/19 where he netted twice and provided six assists in 33 appearances.
Another impressive season in the 2019/20 campaign garnered him the opportunity to move to Juventus, where McKennie has continued to progress further.
With Juve, he's won the Coppa Italia and the Supercoppa Italiana and while with The Old Lady, he won the U.S Soccer Player of the Year award ahead of the likes of Christian Pulisic.
He's also found an eye for goal in the Italian leagues, having scored 13 times in his 96 appearances for Juve so far.
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Style of Play
According to WhoScored, McKennie is a strong central midfielder who enjoys finding himself in great scoring positions and is clinical with the ball at his feet.
He's incredibly patient and rarely lunges into a tackle, meaning his record of picking up cards is relatively low compared to others in his position. His work ethic is another thing many admire about him, as he'll constantly track back and help stop counter-attacks.
His passing would be considered his main weakness however, with his crossing ability also not being his biggest strength.
What's been said about him?
Juventus manager Massimiliano Allegri once coined him 'the best American in Europe' after impressive performances in his first season in the Serie A.
"McKennie is probably the best American player playing in Europe.
"I think it’s very important for him to continue showing the high levels that he has at Juve."
Former manager Domenic Tedesco, who he played under at Schalke, recently reminisced of his time managing McKennie in the Bundesliga, claiming that he was a 'true mastiff' in the middle of the pitch.
"I have many and very positive memories of McKennie, I coached him for two seasons between 2017 and 2019. He played over 50 games for me, always very reliable and willing to sacrifice.
"He’s a true mastiff in the middle. He’s very fast, strong and a good header. But over any other quality, McKennie is a footballer who always gives 100 per cent on the pitch, never gives up and embodies the Juventus motto.
"Weston is a very versatile player, who can play in all the roles in midfield and even on the wing, but the most suitable position for him is the classic number eight.
"At Schalke he was really important for me, for all of us, with a valuable contribution off the pitch too. I don’t remember a day when he showed up without smiling.
"Despite his young age, he always managed to animate our dressing room with a simple joke."
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