If the USA International is not signed permanently, the teenager can step up.
Leeds United fans were informed this week that, regardless of the tier they play in next season, Weston McKennie is unlikely to stay at Elland Road indefinitely.
Leeds signed the USA international on loan from Juventus in the January transfer window, with a £30 million option to buy him at the end of the season if they so desire.
Naturally, the Yorkshire club would have avoided that option if they were relegated to the second tier, but new rumors suggest that the former Schalke star will be back in Turin anyway this summer.
According to Football Insider, despite being a regular under both Jesse Marsch and Javi Gracia since joining the club in the January transfer window, the Peacocks would not splurge the cash on McKennie.
While no reason is given in the Football Insider article, it would not be surprising if the recent setback on Jean-Kevin Augustin, which saw the Yorkshire club forced to pay extra £24.5m for the Frenchman this week, played a part in that decision.
McKennie has provided no goals and no assists in 11 appearances in the top division, averaging a poor 6.53 rating from WhoScored, so fans may not be too unhappy to see him return to Juventus.
Fortunately, Gracia, or whoever takes over at Elland Road next season, may already have a natural replacement in Darko Gyabi, a 24-year-old loanee.
Gyabi will join Leeds from Manchester City in the summer of 2022, but he has battled for game time this season, appearing in three first-team games and one substitute appearance in the Premier League.
However, he has caught the eye in the Premier League 2, notching two goals and three assists in 15 appearances, and his performance against Derby County U21s in March pleased journalist Joe Donahue.
He wrote:
“Darko Gyabi’s performance tonight is the most complete midfield display I’ve seen from any Leeds player, at any level, this season.” Class in passing, strength, presence, awareness, and use of his body.
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