Weston McKennie left at home by Juventus as Everton offer update emerges
Everton are yet to make a “concrete offer” for Weston McKennie despite the midfielder being out of Juventus’ future plans, according to Calcio Mercato.
The Italian outlet reported (25 July) that McKennie was one of the players left to train in Turin as the bulk of the Bianconeri squad head to Herzogenaurach in Germany for a pre-season training camp. He was granted extra holiday after representing the United States at Copa America.
McKennie has reportedly been informed that he will have “no new opportunities” to stake a claim to Juventus head coach Thiago Motta, although the Italian side don’t want to lose him for free next summer.
Calcio Mercato add that the most recent proposal to sign McKennie came from Goodison Park, but the Toffees are yet to submit an official offer with Juventus refusing to accept less than around £17million as a “starting base”.
Everton playing waiting game for Weston McKennie transfer
Given there seems to be no way back whatsoever for McKennie in Turin, and he’s already snubbed one Premier League move to Aston Villa so far this summer, the Toffees are hardly in a rush to sign him.
The wait may have been to determine where exactly they’d need midfield reinforcements this summer, and Amadou Onana’s £50million transfer, also to Aston Villa, has opened up a sizeable gap.
While McKennie, on paper, has the physical attributes to make up for the loss of Onana, his half-season loan spell at Leeds United in 2023 left a lot to be desired, and likely dampened other clubs’ interest in him.
However, therein lies the risk in the Toffees dawdling over a possible transfer for the USA midfielder – the longer they wait, the less time McKennie has to get accustomed with Sean Dyche’s squad and tactics.
With £50m in their coffers thanks to Onana’s move [Tuttosport, 15 July], now may be the time to pull the trigger, but the Blues’ reluctance thus far implies they could be better served pursuing other options.
In other Everton news, Sean Dyche has been backed to get another midfield transfer target ‘back to his best’ should the Blues sign him.
For more Everton news, follow us on Facebook or join our brand new WhatsApp Channel for instant updates to be sent straight to your phone.