‘Worth a punt’ – Tottenham told to consider £15m Weston McKennie transfer despite Leeds nightmare as USMNT midfielder is better suited to a ‘bigger team’

The 25-year-old midfielder briefly spent time in the Premier League when taking in a loan spell at Leeds in the 2022-23 campaign. Said stint at Elland Road ended in the frustration and disappointment of relegation, with questions asked of McKennie’s ability to perform in the English top flight.

He silenced any doubters, while winning plenty of new supporters, when returning to Juventus and starring for them in 2023-24. McKennie is now on international duty at the Copa America and is being linked with clubs across Europe and in MLS after reaching the final year of his contract in Turin.

McKennie was heavily linked with Aston Villa at one stage, but former Spurs defender Alan Hutton has told Tottenham News of the American potentially ending up in north London: “He’s possibly worth a punt. I know I wasn’t really buzzing about it when he looked like he would possibly go to Aston Villa but I think what happened with myself was that I remembered what he was like when he was at Leeds. I know it was a struggling team, I know they got relegated and under Jesse Marsch, it didn’t quite work for him but he has in fairness gone back to Juventus and had a really good season.

“He went back to Juventus and played a decent amount of games so it could possibly be something they look at. I think he suits a bigger team where he can get on the ball, drive about, he can make tackles, start attacks and different things like that. When you’ve got the better players, with no disrespect to Leeds, around him he becomes a better player. So that sort of price tag, it could be something that they look at.”

McKennie took in 38 appearances for Juve last season – the most that he has ever managed across a single campaign – with his work rate and versatility being put to good use. Tottenham are in the market for reinforcements as they look to strengthen a squad that also has Europa League football on the agenda for 2024-25.