It appears that Leeds United’s pursuit of Weston McKennie is nearing an end one way or another.
That’s according to Gazzetta dello Sport, who make it clear the American’s potential transfer to Elland Road is entering its ‘decisive hours’.
They explain that Leeds are currently ‘awaiting a response’ from Juventus regarding the offer they made through agents, which would allow them to ‘enter the final phase of the deal’.
As things stand, the Serie A side are adamant they want €35m, all up front, for the USA international, while the player seems rather happy to be moving to Yorkshire.
The reason for that, as pointed out previously, is the fact there is now a ‘small American colony’ at Leeds, and McKennie thinks ‘it’s the right club for him’.
Right now, the talks are not just focused on the amount of money for the transfer, but ‘also on the formula’, as the Premier League club appears to be offering a small fee for the loan, followed by a large purchase fee to be made mandatory ‘upon reaching a certain number of appearances’, with bonuses on top.
‘This is not good’ for the Serie A side, and the best Juventus will allow is for Leeds to make an offer of a loan with an ‘unconditional’ mandatory option to buy.
Either way, clubs are ‘still working to close’, in search of the perfect middle ground, but Gazzetta dello Sport believe that McKennie’s departure from Juventus ‘now seems certain’.
