West Ham leading the race to sign Weston McKennie
West Ham are in pole position to sign Juventus midfielder Weston McKennie, according to reports from Calciomercato.
The report claims that Juventus are ready to let him go, either in January or next summer, at the right price.
The Hammers were interested in signing the 23-year-old during the summer and held talks with the Turin club over a potential move. However, the player decided to stay put and fight for his place.
McKennie initially joined Juventus on loan from Schalke.
According to ESPN, the contract included “option rights,” and the Old Lady exercised that option to sign the player on a permanent deal for €18.5 million.
He has occasionally impressed at the Turin club but has mostly struggled to maintain consistency.
His future looks uncertain at the moment, with Calciomercato claiming that Juventus boss Massimiliano Allegri and McKennie have had issues off the pitch.
Gamble worth taking
The American international is a powerful midfielder who has shown his class for Juventus. He probably needs a manager who can keep faith in his ability and give him the confidence to flourish.
During the summer, McKennie was also heavily linked with a move to Tottenham Hotspur. While Spurs can still reignite their interest, especially when Fabio Paratici is around, it seems the Hammers have made strong grounds in the race.
The fact that Juventus are ready to offload him means West Ham have a big chance now to move quickly and secure his signature as early as January.
McKennie would slot in perfectly in a midfield trio alongside Declan Rice and Tomas Soucek, and he could prove to be a superb addition if he manages to fulfil his potential.
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