Leeds United want permanent Weston McKennie signing, may renegotiate deal to ensure it
Leeds United want Weston McKinnie’s loan deal to become permanent at the end of the season, according to Sky Sports in Italy.
Agreement has finally been reached with Juventus to bring the American midfielder in before the close of the January transfer window, with the player expected in England on Sunday (29 January) to complete the final elements.
While it is to be a loan costing £1million with an option attached in the first instance, there are certain criteria involved which can turn that into an obligation to buy for £30million which Leeds United plan to happen, and they could even rework the deal at a later time to ensure it does.
Sky Sports Italy reported on Saturday afternoon (28 January): “Juventus and Leeds have reached a verbal agreement: a 1.5 million euro loan with a fixed redemption right of 35 million which can become an obligation under certain conditions.
“The will of the English club, however, is to transform the transfer into a definitive one at the end of the season, either under the conditions established or by renegotiating them later.”
Intent
Since the Serie A side need to sell McKennie and don’t want to see him back in the summer it would have saved a lot of negotiating in the last few days to just buy the 24-year-old this month.
But having already spent heavily on Georginio Rutter, and with relegation still a going concern for the time being, it is perhaps a risk the Whites couldn’t take.
Staying in the Premier League is surely the most important of all the relevant criteria for the deal to be made permanent, with the factors which would activate an obligation apparently easy to achieve [Calcio Mercato, 28 January].
Everything looks to be in place then for McKennie to join the growing American influence at Elland Road long-term, with both clubs wanting to make it happen and the player quickly sold on the move.
As long as he is a successful addition to the line up under compatriot Jesse Marsch, and the desired improvements to the results follow the spending on the squad, there shouldn’t a reason why it doesn’t happen.
After a World Cup that saw McKennie draw plenty of praise alongside Tyler Adams and Yunus Musah, Whites fans will be hoping that two thirds of that combination can work as well together in the Premier League.
In other Leeds United news, Fabrizio Romano has responded to the possibility of a late hijack to the deal, following a report from David Ornstein.