Arsenal have reportedly tabled a bid worth close to 30m euros for USMNT midfielder Weston McKennie as they look to hijack a proposed deal with Leeds United before the end of the transfer window.
The Gunners are on the hunt for a midfielder in the final weeks of the January transfer window amid fears that Mohamed Elneny could miss the remainder of the season with a knee injury. Thomas Partey is yet to make more than 24 appearances in a season for the north London side in the two seasons since his arrival from Atletico Madrid, and there is little recognised alternative to the Ghanaian in Mikel Arteta’s squad should he get injured.
Arteta himself confirmed the situation on Wednesday, explaining that “we need some more cover in midfield ideally if we can,” he said. “In this market it’s pretty complicated to do that”.
“If there’s anything else available that can make us better we’ll look at it”, he added, while any deal for a midfielder this winter is not expected to alter their pursuit of no.1 option Declan Rice in the summer.
And, as per various reports, there is strong interest in both Brighton midfielder Moises Caicedo and also Everton’s Amadou Onana, though a deal for either appears unlikely to happen this winter except for an enormous fee.
As a result, according to Italian outlet Repubblica, the Gunners have tabled a 30m euro bid for Weston McKennie, with the Juventus man also subject to interest from Jesse Marsch’s Leeds United.
McKennie is capable of playing both at the base of midfield and further forward, and has established a keen eye for goal with the Old Lady, with the 24 year old having grabbed 13 goals in 96 outings for his current side.
It seems, however, that he will be on the move this winter.
