---
title: "Leeds: Journalist backs Orta to sign Weston McKennie"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/leeds-journalist-backs-orta-to-sign-weston-mckennie/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Henry Jackson"
section: "Leeds United"
published: "2022-01-07T12:40:25Z"
modified: "2022-01-07T12:40:25Z"
---

# Leeds: Journalist backs Orta to sign Weston McKennie

**Leeds United have been boosted in their attempts to sign Juventus midfielder Weston McKennie, with journalist Pete O’Rourke claiming a January move could happen.**

### The Lowdown: Leeds keen on signing McKennie

The Whites are searching for a new midfielder in the [January transfer window](https://www.givemesport.com/1754870-january-transfer-window-2022-when-does-it-open-when-does-it-close-and-which-players-are-going-to-move), with Kalvin Phillips out [injured](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/kalvin-phillips/verletzungen/spieler/351749) for the foreseeable future and [reports](https://www.footballinsider247.com/sources-leeds-united-in-january-transfer-u-turn-as-orta-lays-groundwork-for-two-signings/) suggesting Victor Orta is seeking two additions – a number six and a number eight.

One player who Leeds have been [linked](https://motleedsnews.com/news/fabrizio-romano-shares-what-he-has-heard-about-leeds-united-signing-weston-mckennie/) with signing is McKennie, with the American not always a regular for Juventus this season, [starting 11](https://www.whoscored.com/Players/338275/Show/Weston-McKennie) out of 20 Serie A matches.

It appears as though Marcelo Bielsa could be pushing for the [£22.5million-rated](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/weston-mckennie/profil/spieler/332697) midfielder’s signature, with a fresh update emerging on the situation.

\[freshpress-quiz id=“383507″\]

### The Latest: Journalist provides update

Speaking to [*Give Me Sport*](https://www.givemesport.com/1815034-elland-road-transfer-news-massive-club-open-to-letting-20m-star-leave-this-month), O’Rourke claimed a January move for McKennie isn’t out of the question:

> “I think McKennie could be a target, whether you could get them away from Juventus to join a relegation battle will be another issue, but Juventus are open to letting McKennie go, so that maybe gives Leeds a bit of hope in that one.”

[Latest Leeds United news!](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/latest-leeds-united-news-30/)

### The Verdict: Much-needed addition

The 23-year-old is exactly the kind of player Leeds could do with signing this month, with his profile ideal for what Bielsa is looking for.

His age makes him a long-term acquisition but he already possesses plenty of experience, [scoring eight goals in 28 caps](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/weston-mckennie/profil/spieler/332697) for the USA and making 65 appearances for Juve after racking up [91](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/weston-mckennie/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/332697) games for Schalke.

According to the official [Bundesliga](https://www.bundesliga.com/en/bundesliga/news/weston-mckennie-a-born-leader-for-schalke-and-the-usmnt-12019) site, the youngster is capable of playing pretty much anywhere in midfield and even in defence, making him the ideal signing in Orta’s search to add depth to the squad – he has played [eight](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/weston-mckennie/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/332697) different positions in his career.

His former manager in Germany, David Wagner, hailed him as a ‘[leader](https://www.bundesliga.com/en/bundesliga/news/weston-mckennie-a-born-leader-for-schalke-and-the-usmnt-12019)‘, which is surely the type of personality Bielsa would want in a relegation dogfight.

McKennie was won an average of [1.6 aerial duels](https://www.whoscored.com/Players/338275/Show/Weston-McKennie) per game in the league this season, not to mention 1.1 tackles and dribbles apiece, highlighting his all-round expertise in the middle of the park.

***In other news, Leeds have also been linked with another signing. Find out who it is [here](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/leeds-united-news/leeds-whites-linked-with-ryan-nyambe/).***