Weston McKennie impacted at Leeds United as £30m Elland Road uncertainty remains – Sky Sports pundit
We’re delighted to welcome former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson as our exclusive columnist as each week he’ll be giving his views on the biggest talking points at Leeds United…
Paul Robinson has backed Weston McKennie despite the Leeds United midfielder failing to impress since making the switch to Elland Road.
90min reported on 22 March that Leeds have the option to sign the American for £30million when his loan deal from Juventus concludes in the summer.
However, The Athletic’s Phil Hay has suggested (The Phil Hay Monday Club podcast, 24 April, 13m 30s) that making the 24-year-old’s move permanent may not be the most sensible option.
Nevertheless, Robinson has claimed there could be a lot of “contributing factors” behind the scenes that are impacting McKennie’s form.
“He’s a top-class player and I was very excited when he came to Leeds. He was a big coup. It has been difficult for him because he had a very close relationship with Jesse Marsch,” Robinson exclusively told MOT Leeds News.
“He’s come to a team who are immediately fighting relegation, they haven’t done well, they’ve underperformed, the manager changed. I think there’s a lot of contributing factors.
“He hasn’t played well, but neither has anyone around him in a team that’s struggling. Between now and the end of the season, Leeds are going to need everybody.”
Up next for McKennie and Leeds is a tough Elland Road clash against Newcastle United on Saturday afternoon (13 May).
In other Leeds news, Danny Murphy has urged Leeds to keep Big Sam for next season.