West Ham United have been handed a boost in their pursuit of Weston McKennie with Juventus reportedly willing to listen to offers for the American midfielder.
McKennie rose through the ranks of FC Dallas and Schalke’s academies before making his senior debut for the Bundesliga side in 2017.
The 23-year-old went on to become an integral part of the Schalke midfield, making 91 appearances for the club in all competitions. His displays attracted the attention of Serie A giants Juventus, who snapped him up for a fee of around £18 million after an initial loan deal.
After showing plenty of promise early on in his Juventus career, McKennie has dropped down the pecking order under Max Allegri and has been mainly used as an impact sub this season.
McKennie, who has won 25 international caps with the U.S., has four years left on his current deal and is valued at around £20 million by Transfermarkt. According to Team Talk (via Tuttosport), Juventus will sell if they get a good offer for the midfielder.
Should West Ham United make a move for Weston McKennie?
West Ham United have a settled midfield in the shape of Declan Rice and Tomas Soucek. The duo played an important role in the Hammers securing European football for this season.
However, Rice has been heavily linked with a move to several top clubs, including Chelsea, in recent months. Given his unwillingness to sign a new deal, West Ham might be forced to part ways with the England international sooner rather than later.
Captain Mark Noble is also in his final season at the London Stadium, meaning West Ham could be woefully short of options in central midfield next season. Thus, a move for McKennie is a no-brainer.
The Juventus youngster has a varied skill set that would hold him in good stead at West Ham. David Moyes is in search of a player who can provide energy, creativity and goals from midfield, and McKennie ticks all the boxes.
The 23-year-old is versatile and can play in multiple positions in the midfield and even attack. He has a great engine and can contribute going forward, as well as track back and help out his defenders.
The American is strong in the air and has the ability to win back possession for his side with tackles and interceptions. He has a decent passing range and can drive his team forward quickly in transitions.
McKennie also has an eye for goal and his knack for making late runs into the box makes him hard for defenders to track.
Given the fact that he has played for top clubs in Europe, he will not be overawed by a move to the Premier League and he could be a fantastic long-term acquisition for West Ham.