Yahoo News Aston Villa sent 'crazy' message about Weston McKennie 2.0 transfer
In Weston McKennie, Aston Villa have been told they are getting a committed midfielder with plenty of energy to burn and the skill to be decisive at both ends of the field.
Events are rapidly unfolding on the eve of the summer transfer window's opening as Villa attempt to wrap up some of their business early doors as to avoid any potential punishment in relation to the Premier League's financial stipulations. The sale of Douglas Luiz with a €20m fee attached will go a long way to helping this cause, but this is not the only benefit of the deal.
Joining Unai Emery's squad to soften the blow of losing the Brazilian will be the arrival of English attacker Samuel Iling-Junior and American midfielder McKennie. The former bravely went overseas to forge the early stages of his career, now looks to return to his homeland four years on from departing Chelsea's academy.
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And as for the latter, McKennie, Villa have seen plenty of buzz in response to his potential arrival.
Supporters will remember the 25-year-old's previous venture into English football - a six-month loan spell to close out the 2022/23 campaign with Leeds United. Asides from the fact he was loaned to Elland Road, there isn't much else to it - 16 starts with no goals in return, the club relegated, it was ultimately a period to brush under the carpet.
But that is not the McKennie that will be imminently arriving at Villa Park. The new version has been crafted over the course of a season, revitalised under Massimiliano Allegri, and it was former coach Jesse Marsch proudest to see such a turnaround when hope seemed so minimal.
Back in February, he told CBS Sports : "Even reading some of the articles here [in Italy] about Weston, there's a big appreciation for the way he's playing this year. I think they're talking about his fitness level, they're talking about his productivity around the box and helping set up attacking plays and then also his responsibility and intelligence to help out the team defensively.
"It's crazy. When you watch him in the match, he's in the defensive box. The next moment, he's in the offensive box. He's chasing, he's running, he's winning duels, he's taking throw-ins, he's winning duels on corner kicks and free-kicks so he's playing a big part of the success of Juve this year and it's great to see him playing at such a high level."
The 50-year-old, who brought the midfielder to West Yorkshire though was sacked only a week later, paid tribute to his versatility to fit into any role required of him - a trait Emery can look forward to utilising as Villa entertain midweek Champions League duties alongside the hectic Premier League schedule.
If Villa's Spanish custodian was looking back on Marsch's interview for advice on the next steps to take with the US international, then he would be in luck as the newly-named Canada national team boss laid out the perfect roadmap to harnessing McKennie's full potential.
"Next I think it’s just continuing to play a big role in the team, to keep himself fit, to become more and more of a leader, to take more responsibility in how the game plays out and not just focus on exactly what his role is but how to also be the guy in the team that wants the ball, that wants to be the game-changer - and he’s really close," Marsch said.
"I think he’s playing a big role in Juventus here and like I said, I think that’s been a big part of why they’ve been successful and why Weston’s fit in so well with Allegri, the team and everything else."
