According to a report by Gazzetta dello Sport (as relayed by Sport Witness), Antonio Conte is ‘pushing’ Fabio Paratici into signing Juventus midfielder Weston McKennie in the January transfer window, with the Turin side deeming this a real possibility.
The Lowdown: McKennie’s improved form at Juventus
The prospect of signing the 23-year-old may have seemed far more tangible during the summer transfer window, as McKennie looked out of favour under former manager Andrea Pirlo. This was highlighted by the Italy legend’s choice to utilise the American as a substitute in the majority of games, rather than as a part of the starting eleven. During the 2020/21 Serie A campaign, McKennie made 36 appearances for the club, 16 of which came from the bench.
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However, this season McKennie seems to have impressed new boss Massimiliano Allegri, who has started the midfielder on 13 out of 18 occassions. The USA international secured himself a spot in the starting 11 following back-to-back goals against Sassuolo and Hellas Verona in late October, and has been virtually undroppable since.
The Latest: Conte ‘pushing’ for McKennie
According to Gazzetta dello Sport (as relayed by Sport Witness), Conte ‘appreciates him a lot and is pushing Fabio Paratici to try’ to sign the Juventus midfielder in the January window.
The report says the Old Lady currently 'do not seem willing to open the door to Tottenham’, but also details how desperately they need the money to reinvest into a new centre forward and would listen to 'suitable offers', with Sport Witness adding that 'money talks'.
The Verdict: A good signing for Spurs
McKennie’s versatility across the midfield could prove to be invaluable for Conte, as a number of Tottenham midfielders have been linked with January exits, including the likes of Dele Alli and Tanguy Ndombele.
The American leads the Italian side, alongside Leonardo Bonucci, in the number of interceptions averaged per game in the league, illustrating his ability to be break up play as a defensive midfielder.
However, having scored eight goals in 28 national team appearances, this also suggests he has an ability to cause havoc in the final third, something Conte has been missing from his midfielders this term. He has also been praised for his personality, with his former manager at Schalke, David Wagner, hailing the young star as a born 'leader'.
Such has been his turnaround in form this season that ESPN pundit Sebastian Salazar even apologised for previous criticism of the USA star, admitting McKennie has been 'unbelievable' this season.
This could turn out to be a shrewd signing for Conte, but it could be a bit more difficult to pull-off in January following his return to prominence in Turin under Allegri.