League leaders in the Premier League, Arsenal, could make a move to bolster their midfield with American talent Weston McKennie.
The Gunners, who recently extended a lead at the top of the table, are making a title push. According to La Gazzetta dello Sport in Italy, McKennie would welcome a move to the Emirates. Earlier this month, the American turned down offers from Bournemouth and Aston Villa. Instead, he wishes to play for a bigger club, should England call upon him.
Certainly Arsenal fit the bill as a ‘bigger’ club, particularly in comparison to Villa and Bournemouth. According to Gazzetta, Juventus would want somewhere in the $25 million range for McKennie. The Bianconeri bought McKennie from Schalke in 2021 after a loan spell the previous season. However, the American did not fully impress in Turin. Still, at the age of 24, McKennie can still get better. He also wears the American insignia, drawing a horde of fans from across the Atlantic Ocean.
Juventus can lose McKennie without much damage, says Gazzetta. In 15 starts, he has only one goal in Serie A. He added two more to that tally in the Champions League. Juventus’ form didn’t change much when McKennie missed three games with a hamstring injury just before the World Cup.
However, he can make a considerable difference at Arsenal, even if his time at Juventus doesn’t jump out at them.
Weston McKennie on Arsenal’s radar
The league leaders are buzzing in midfield. Martin Ødegaard is having a great season. Thomas Partey is a rock in the middle of the park. Next, Granit Xhaka provides the stability and experience for an otherwise young team.
Other than that, Arsenal don’t have much in midfield. Emile Smith-Rowe is talented and great when she’s healthy. But, he is more of an attack option. Albert Sambi Lokonga has failed to impress in admittedly limited minutes. The other options are too defensive, like Rob Holding, or too offensive, like Leandro Trossard or Fábio Vieira.
Weston McKennie would be a perfect fit for Arsenal should he pick up an injury in midfield. He has the offensive talent to step up and get involved. However, he can also lend himself to defense. He played a key role in helping Juventus keep as many clean sheets on both sides in the World Cup.
The January transfer window is coming to an end. In the Premier League, the deadline is January 31 at 11pm in London. You can follow deadline day updates on Peacock. Perhaps Weston McKennie is a name Arsenal are aiming for to solidify their title.
PHOTO: IMAGO / Insidefoto
