Transfer Centre

Liverpool join race for Juventus midfielder Weston McKennie?

By Ben Knapton, Senior Reporter | 18 December 2022

Liverpool reportedly join Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur in the race to sign Juventus midfielder Weston McKennie on loan in the January transfer window.

Liverpool have reportedly joined the ever-growing list of clubs in the race for Juventus midfielder Weston McKennie.

The USA international has not managed to cement his place as a weekly starter for Massimiliano Allegri and is being tipped to leave Turin in the coming months.

A positive World Cup campaign has helped to drum up interest in McKennie's services, with the ex-Schalke man starting all four of the USA's games in their run to the last 16.

McKennie remains under contract at the Turin Stadium for another two-and-a-half years, but he is believed to have admirers in the Premier League in the form of Tottenham Hotspur.

Chelsea are also rumoured to be monitoring the situation, while Manchester United supposedly tried and failed to sign McKennie in a swap deal with Donny van de Beek.

Weston McKennie in action for Juventus in October 2021 © Reuters

According to the Daily Mail, Liverpool have also taken an interest in the 24-year-old, but they would only be willing to take him on loan rather than a permanent deal.

The Reds have seemingly identified a new midfielder as a priority for 2023, and the report suggests that Jurgen Klopp would welcome McKennie on a temporary basis in January.

Liverpool and Juventus agreed on a loan deal for Arthur on transfer deadline day in the summer, but the Brazilian had only made one senior appearance for the Reds before suffering a serious thigh injury.

Arthur is currently recovering from surgery, and there have been suggestions that Liverpool - who possess an option to make the deal permanent - could let the 26-year-old leave in January.

Arthur's agent has now ruled out an early termination, though, telling Tuttomercatoweb: "He'll stay at Liverpool in January, 100%. It's an aspect that has never been under discussion. A possible return to Turin is absolutely not the case."

Arthur warms up for Liverpool in September 2022 © Reuters

McKennie was loaned to Juventus for the 2020-21 season before making his stay permanent for a €20.5m (£17.9m) fee last summer, and the American has now amassed 13 goals and four assists in 91 games for the Bianconeri.

This season, McKennie has struck three goals and set up one more in 16 matches, and he has won the Coppa Italia and Supercoppa Italiana during his time in Turin.

Liverpool are unlikely to spend big on a new midfielder in January ahead of a summer swoop for Borussia Dortmund's Jude Bellingham, who could cost in excess of £100m.

A separate report claimed that the Merseyside giants were increasingly confident of winning the race to sign Bellingham, who is also wanted by Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain.

Benfica and Argentina starlet Enzo Fernandez is also thought to be on the radar of Liverpool, who could wave goodbye to James Milner, Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain on free transfers next year.