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Arsenal could be entering a bidding war with Leeds United over the transfer of Weston McKennie from Juventus, according to latest reports.
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A report via Gazzetta dello Sport claimed on Monday that the Gunners have contacted the Serie A side for the USMNT midfielder and are in talks with all concerned parties over a transfer. Juventus, who would rather hold on to the 24-year-old but are open to selling thanks to the state of their finances, are reported to be demanding between €20 and €25 million for the former Schalke 04 midfielder.
Arsenal, meanwhile, are looking for a midfielder to provide Thomas Partey and Granit Xhaka with some competition following Mohamed Elneny’s injury woes and poor form this season. McKennie’s box-to-box and deep-lying playmaker abilities make him a good fit to strengthen the Gunners’ midfield, but his value is what makes him more attractive to the club.
THE LATEST: ARSENAL COULD MISS OUT
Recent reports now indicate that Arsenal could lose out on the USMNT midfielder thanks to Jesse Marsch-led Leeds United coming into the play.
Marsch has already gotten Tyler Adams and Brenden Aaronson in and is slowly building a Leeds team that can compete for mod-table spots comfortably as they try to maintain their Premier League status. McKennie is teammates with Adams and Aaronson, which could make his transition more seamless.
Marsch is also a manager who the Juventus midfielder is familiar with, and this could count against Mikel Arteta in the race for his signature.
THE VERDICT: NO URGENCY TO SIGN HIM, NOT AN ISSUE
However, it is not yet up to him as both Arsenal and Leeds are currently in talks with Juventus. But Leeds have the jump on as they are reported to have advanced in personal talks with McKennie.
According to Fabrizio Romano who broke the news of Leeds’ involvement in the transfer, the Elland Road outfit are also interested in Moroccan international Azzedine Ounahi, who made a big splash at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar as the North African nation made it all the way to the semi-finals of the global showpiece.
This could give Arsenal some leeway in their negotiations for McKennie despite the reports that Leeds have advanced significantly in transfer talks with the American.
Should McKennie leave this January, he will leave Turin as a Supercoppa Italiana and Coppa Italia winner. However, the possibility of him remaining at the Alliance Stadium still stands if Juventus can sell other players.
