Aston Villa circle Weston McKennie as Juventus future nears decision

Aston Villa are positioning themselves for a potential move for Weston McKennie, with reports from Italy suggesting Unai Emery’s side are seriously considering a bid as the midfielder’s contract situation at Juventus approaches a critical stage.

The United States international is no stranger to English football, having spent part of 2023 on loan at Leeds United. That spell proved difficult, but it has not closed the door on a return to the Premier League.

According to Il Giornale, via Tutto Juve, McKennie has rebuilt his reputation in Serie A and is now viewed as a key contributor in Turin. Despite managerial upheaval earlier in the season, the 27-year-old has remained a regular, featuring in 28 matches across competitions and contributing five goals and four assists.

The report claims McKennie has shown steady improvement and has become one of Juventus’ more reliable performers — a turnaround that has reignited interest from abroad.

That form has not gone unnoticed. Aston Villa, Atlético Madrid and several Italian clubs are all tracking his situation closely, with Il Giornale describing the interested parties as “crazy” about the midfielder.

McKennie has less than six months remaining on his current deal, placing Juventus under pressure to resolve his future quickly. The club are understood to be keen on securing a contract extension, but time is becoming a factor.

Should negotiations stall, Juventus may face a decision between selling in the coming months or risking a free transfer.

The Italian report suggests Aston Villa and Atlético Madrid, led by Diego Simeone, are both actively pressing to sign McKennie. While a January move is not ruled out entirely, a summer transfer is viewed as the more realistic scenario.

Villa’s willingness to act decisively could be key. With competition building, Emery’s side would need to move early to gain an advantage.

Crucially, McKennie is reported to favour a return to the Premier League if he leaves Juventus — a factor that could tilt the balance in Villa’s favour over La Liga and Serie A rivals.

McKennie offers tactical versatility, physicality and European experience — traits that align with Emery’s midfield demands. A Premier League return, under more stable conditions than his Leeds spell, could allow him to finally show why he remains so highly rated across Europe.

Much depends on whether Juventus can convince McKennie to commit his future to the club. If talks drag on, Villa are well placed to step in, particularly if they are prepared to move quickly once the summer window opens.

Should Aston Villa push early to secure McKennie before rivals act?