Southampton leading the race for Weston McKennie
According to a report from ESPN, Southampton are leading the race to sign FC Schalke 04 midfielder Weston McKennie, who has been monitored by a number of Premier League clubs including Tottenham.
The 21-year-old United States midfielder came through the youth ranks at FC Dallas, before making the switch to Schalke in 2016. Having spent a year with the club’s U19 setup, McKennie broke into the first-team and has gone on to feature 91 times till date, scoring five goals and setting up seven more.
McKennie found the back of the net on three occasions in the 2019/20 campaign, having made 28 Bundesliga appearances. A key member of the team, the USMNT international can play as a midfielder or in defence.
However, Schalke are facing a financial crunch due to the effects of the coronavirus and may have to sell players in the summer, with McKennie among those who could be offloaded. The 21-year-old midfielder is likely to cost around £20m.
And as per the report, a number of clubs in England are keeping an eye on the midfielder’s situation, with Tottenham being one among them. The likes of Newcastle United, Chelsea, Everton and Leicester City are also monitoring the Schalke star, but Southampton are at the front of the queue to land the USMNT international. (h/t ESPN)
Spurs have already strengthened the midfield with the signing of Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg from Southampton. However, with Tanguy Ndombele’s future still up in the air, adding another central midfielder wouldn’t be the worst option.
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McKennie, given his age and potential, would have been a decent signing, more so considering the £20m transfer fee. However, it seems like the Saints will be the ones landing the 21-year-old this summer.
