Aston Villa could trump West Ham boss David Moyes to his Declan Rice heir after a big push from Italy for US star Weston McKennie.
After the Jack Grealish saga which eventually saw the playmaker join Man City, Aston Villa fans know all about a media driven campaign to get a top player out of a so-called second tier club.
Playing in claret and blue is not the only thing West Ham and Aston Villa have in common.
Rice’s West Ham future – like the Grealish soap opera at Villa – has been the subject of much debate and incessant speculation for the last two years.
Hammers insiders have claimed for some time that the club’s hierarchy have privately agreed to sell the midfield talisman in the summer.
According to longstanding reports, Juventus and USA midfielder McKennie is the man West Ham have targeted as Rice’s eventual replacement (BeSoccer, Tuttosport, The Times).
Tottenham have also been heavily linked with the tigerish and pacy star.
Before he went on to star at the World Cup, it was reported that not only are Juventus looking to sell McKennie, the player also wants a move to the Premier League (Football Italia).
And at the weekend we brought you reports that alleged West Ham target McKennie could be available for as little as £10m this month as Juve looked to avoid a ‘capital loss’.
Now it seems Villa boss Unai Emery could be the fly in the ointment for the Hammers.
Because Aston Villa could trump West Ham boss Moyes to his Rice heir after a big push from Italy for US star McKennie.
Football Italia is across the latest news emerging in Italy on McKennie’s future.
And via Sky Sport Italia transfer expert Gianluca Di Marzio, it is claimed Aston Villa have joined the race and even made an offer for the US World Cup star supposedly wanted by Moyes.
Juve are said to be eager to cash in on McKennie in January in order to bring in a new midfielder of their own.
West Ham’s fellow strugglers Bournemouth reportedly offered McKennie’s full asking price but he is said to have turned down that offer as he wants ‘a more prestigious club’
Sickeningly for West Ham – and now Aston Villa – Tottenham and Chelsea are the clubs mentioned as being in that bracket in McKennie’s thinking.
