Arsenal have entered into talks relating to a deal to deliver Weston McKennie to the Premier League within the January switch window.
What’s the speak?
That’s in response to a report by Italian publication Gazzetta dello Sport (by way of The Metro), who declare that Edu has now held preliminary talks with the Juventus central midfielder’s agent, with the Serie A facet believed to be keen to hearken to provides between €20m (£17.5m) and €25m (£22m) plus add-ons for the 24-year-old.
Nevertheless, the report goes on to counsel that the Gunners are usually not alone of their pursuit of the USMNT worldwide, with Aston Villa, AFC Bournemouth, Fulham, Borussia Dortmund and AS Monaco additionally regarded as eager on the playmaker, nevertheless, it might seem like Mikel Arteta‘s outfit who’re at present main the race for McKennie.
Bentancur 2.0
Contemplating the undoubted capability McKennie fairly clearly possesses, coupled with the truth that Arsenal’s north London rivals Tottenham Hotspur have beforehand labored wonders by signing a considerably out of favour Juve midfielder within the form of Rodrigo Bentancur, it’s not obscure why Arteta can be eager on a transfer for the American this month.
Certainly, over his 34 Serie A appearances in his debut marketing campaign with the Outdated Girl again in 2020/21, the £31m-rated expertise proved simply how efficient he will be from midfield, scoring 5 targets, registering two assists and creating 5 massive possibilities, along with taking a median of 0.9 photographs, making 0.8 key passes and finishing 0.6 dribbles – at a hit price of 83% – per sport.
The £54k-per-week maestro additionally caught the attention in metrics extra typical of his place that season, making a median of 1 sort out, 0.8 interceptions, 0.7 clearances and profitable 2.6 duels – at a hit price of 43% – per match, in addition to enjoying a median of 0.7 lengthy balls, 0.9 chipped passes and finishing 18.9 complete passes – at a hit price of 85% – per fixture.
These returns noticed the 24-year-old who – Norwich Metropolis supervisor David Wagner dubbed a “chief” and Evan Cooper claimed can be an “absolute steal” for his asking worth – common an especially spectacular Sofascore statistical score of 6.86 again in 20/21.
Moreover, McKennie’s positional versatility would additionally come as an enormous increase to Arteta and his title hopefuls, with the previous Schalke supervisor and present RB Leipzig boss Domenico Tedesco stating of the American again in 2018:
Do you assume Arsenal can win the league this season?
Sure
No
“Weston isn’t simply essential to us for his targets. Even throughout these phases when it’s not going so properly, he embodies every part that we try to face for. He has mentality, he’s highly effective, down-to-earth and works exhausting – and he can play as a six, eight or 10. So long as he continues to work exhausting and retains his toes on the bottom, he’ll solely get higher. He’s simply nice!”
As such, it’s clear to see simply how helpful a participant McKennie can be within the present Arsenal facet, whereas Edu will undoubtedly be hoping that the 24-year-old might show to grow to be his personal Bentancur-esque discovery – the £21.5m Spurs signing who at present ranks because the joint Twenty fifth-best participant within the Premier League and has a market valuation of £53m – at The Emirates.
