Private jet due to land at 5:44pm from Turin as Leeds United book Weston McKennie medical
Weston McKennie looks set to land at Leeds-Bradford Airport at 05:44pm (GMT) on Sunday ahead of an initial loan move from Juventus to Leeds United.
Sky Sports Italy reported earlier on Sunday (29 January) that McKennie, 24, would be due to fly out of Turin at 04:30pm (GMT+1) ahead of a medical with the Whites on Monday (30 January).
As per Flight Radar, a private jet taking off from Turin at the same time is due to land at Leeds-Bradford at 05:44pm (GMT).
It’s likely that McKennie will be on board that plane with Leeds set to sign the USA international on a loan deal with an obligation for it to be made permanent in the summer.
According to Sky Sports Italy, Leeds have verbally agreed a £1.3million loan fee with a permanent clause, which will be triggered “under certain conditions”, worth £30.7million.
Plane spotting
You just know that there’ll be Leeds fans making their way to the airport, Elland Road and Thorp Arch on Sunday evening in a bid to catch a glimpse of McKennie.
And who can blame them?
It’s an exciting signing because McKennie is someone who’s been a regular for Juventus for the last few seasons, winning silverware, playing in the Champions League and representing the USA at the World Cup.
He’s also experienced in Germany too, playing in senior football for four seasons in the Bundesliga with Schalke before joining Juve, initially on loan, in the 2020/21 season.
McKennie is an attack-minded central midfielder so he kind of fills the void left by Mateusz Klich after he went to DC United earlier this month.
Jesse Marsch hadn’t been using Klich this season, relying on just Tyler Adams and Marc Roca in the centre of the park with Brenden Aaronson, Jack Harrison or Rodrigo ahead of them.
McKennie could come in to make a midfield trio with Roca and fellow American Adams, but that would mean that another USA compatriot could face the axe in Aaronson, who’s form has dipped since the World Cup.
We’re happy with the McKennie signing.
Please don’t talk it down just because he’s another American.
Leeds have splashed the cash on Maximilian Wober and Georginio Rutter so far this month so we cannot exactly say that the Americans are dominating our business.
And while the 49ers and Jesse Marsch probably have had a role in this, it doesn’t mean it’s a bad thing when this is a player who has the CV of one of Europe’s top central midfielders.
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