Weston McKennie is expected to leave FC Schalke this summer, and clubs from at least four different European nations — Spain, England, France and Germany — have expressed interest in his services and are monitoring his situation, sources tell CBS Sports.
The 21-year-old Texas native has been a staple in the middle of the park since joining the Bundesliga side in 2016. He’s played 91 matches for the Schalke, including at least 30 in each of the last two seasons. McKennie was one of the few bright spots this season as the club stumbled to a 12th-place finish after pushing for a Europa League spot just months ago.
With Schalke going through financial issues and placing a salary restriction on players, several key members are expected to leave the club. Schalke’s young goalkeeper Alexander Nubel signed with Bayern Munich at the end of June.
Sources tell CBS Sports that McKennie is eyeing a club that is in European competitions, with top-tier clubs interested like Liverpool as well as second-tier clubs that include Everton, Newcastle, Wolverhampton and others. Also important to McKennie, sources say, is finding a club where he would consistently see the field and one where he’s confident about the developmental path the club has for him.
McKennie’s value in the transfer market is generally viewed from the outside at around $25 million, though it is unclear what Schalke or his representatives values him at. A move to France seems highly unlikely though, with maybe only PSG having the financial resources to drop roughly that sort of dollar figure on McKennie due to the economic turmoil clubs in the country have faced due to the coronavirus pandemic. Continue reading