Conte wants McKennie at Tottenham

Tottenham boss Antonio Conte has enjoyed a strong start to life in north London since replacing former Spurs headmaster Nuno Espírito Santo while embarking on a five-match unbeaten run since taking up his current posting, and the former Inter Milan & Juventus manager could be set to make his first signing this January.

According to reports in Italy via outlet Calciomercato, Conte has his eyes set on Juventus’ United States international midfielder Weston McKennie in a possible January move from Turin to the English capital.

Club director of football Fabio Paratici was instrumental in McKennie arriving in Italy from German giant FC Schalke 04 in a full deal this summer after he spent the 2020-21 Serie A campaign on loan where he impressed former boss Andrea Pirlo while settling to life with La Vecchia Signora quite well.

Though he has featured eighteen times this season under Maximiliano Allegri across both the Serie A and Champions League, the report suggests that Allegri does not view McKennie as untouchable and would be willing to let the Texas-native depart if an acceptable offer was submitted.

Juventus star ‘the first name’ on Antonio Conte’s January Tottenham wishlist

TURIN, ITALY – AUGUST 14: Juventus player Weston McKennie ahead of the pre-season friendly match between Juventus and Atalanta at Allianz Stadium on August 14, 2021 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Daniele Badolato – Juventus FC/Getty Images)

Tottenham was interested in McKennie this summer despite a deal not being struck for his services, but his profile is said to suit Conte who may not be able to count on current midfield options Tanguy Ndombele or Harry Winks after both have fielded transfer interest with January looming.

American star would cement national influence in the Premier League

Should Weston McKennie find his way to Tottenham in January, it would hardly be the first time an American international star settled in London or the Premier League on the whole.

Current national team colleague Christian Pulisic is already at Chelsea, and a cadre of USMNT stars have plied their trade along the Thames at Fulham after Brian McBride, Carlos Bocanegra, Clint Dempsey, Antonee Robinson, Tim Ream, Kasey Keller, and Eddie Johnson all enjoyed stints in the English capital.

The same can be said for other parts of the country both past and present. Starlet Josh Sargent is operating at Norwich City at the minute as is goalkeeper Zach Steffen at Manchester City.

Juventus star ‘the first name’ on Antonio Conte’s January Tottenham wishlist

SEVILLE, SPAIN – APRIL 13: Christian Pulisic of Chelsea FC looks on during the UEFA Champions League Quarter Final Second Leg match between Chelsea FC and FC Porto at Estadio Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan on April 13, 2021 in Seville, Spain. Sporting stadiums around Spain remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Jose Manuel Alvarez/Quality Sport Images/Getty Images)

A list of former Americans to ply their trade in the English top-flight reads like a whose-who of some of the best and brightest to ever come out of the United States and includes names like Landon Donovan, DeAndre Yedlin, Jozy Altidore, DaMarcus Beasley, Michael Bradley, Brad Friedel, John Harkes, Tim Howard, Cobi Jones, Eddie Lewis, Joe-Max Moore, Preki, and Claudio Reyna.

Should McKennie add his name to the list, he could certainly be one of the most talented of an already impressive list of Americans that have called the Premier League home.