Sources: Leeds United deal for Weston McKennie collapses – it’s ‘financially impossible’
Leeds United’s deal for Weston McKennie has collapsed following their relegation from the Premier League, sources have told Football Insider.
The 24-year-old USA international joined on loan from Juventus in January in a deal which included a buy option of £30million.
That was due to be automatically triggered if United maintained their top-tier status, but he is now set to return to his parent club in Serie A.
Sources say it is “financially impossible” for Leeds to keep obtain him and maintain his wages following their demotion to the Championship.
That was confirmed on the Premier League final day in which Sam Allardyce’s team joined Leicester City and Southampton as one of the three relegated top-flight club.
McKennie is one of the top earners at Leeds, where they have been paying his reported £3.7million salary since his loan arrival.
He is set to be one of a number of big-name departures in the wake of the financially catastrophic blow of relegation, even though parachute payments will ease the burden initially next season.
McKennie signed under compatriot Jesse Marsch in January but only played once under the 49-year-old before he was sacked by Leeds.
He has made 20 appearances for Leeds in total, which include 16 Premier League starts, with the latest coming in Sunday’s 4-1 defeat to Tottenham.
The loanee played 60 minutes of the match before being substituted and replaced by Junior Firpo.
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