Weston McKennie transfer: How Leeds USMNT heavy midfield could line up with Brenden Aaronson and Tyler Adams

The core of United States The men’s national team can increasingly be found in Leeds as they are hired to add Weston McKennie from Juventus. The deal is a loan until the end of the season with an option to buy for 33 million euros plus surcharges. For Jesse Marsch, getting a player with Champions League experience to save is quite an asset LeedsUnited before relegation as McKennie will snap with other Americans Tyler Adams and Brenden Aaronson. With the uncertainty around juventus Who has been hit by a 15-point deduction and could potentially be ruled out of European competition makes a move from McKennie makes sense if they want to qualify, but it’s also risky moving to a Leeds United side that only have one Point above the relegation zone is in the Premier League.

But Leeds seem to have convinced him of Marsch’s vision of the team so he is confident in his talent to keep the team in the Premier League. With McKennie away, how will Leeds United line up?

First and foremost, Marsch deployed a 4-2-3-1 with double pivot Markus Roca and Adams behind Jack Harrison, Willy Gnoto and Aaronson but a few times the team has used a 4-3-3. McKennie can play almost anywhere but is most comfortable as a left midfielder with freedom.

Here are some ways Leeds United could use McKennie:

1. Retention of the double pivot

Aaronson’s versatility allows him to slip onto the wing with McKennie as a pseudo-10 for Leeds. While McKennie isn’t known for working with the ball at his feet, he’s someone who can create space with his runs, giving Roca the freedom to orchestrate the game from deep while the wingers have more space around the pitch have around. That would require one of Harrison or Gnoto to bench, and it feels like Harrison could be the one to make room when the going gets tough.

Despite scoring 19 goals and providing 13 more assists for Leeds in three Premier League seasons, Harrision is having a poor season by his standards with just one goal and four assists. He’s also shooting a little less and winning fewer tackles than in the past with Leeds. Sharing times with Gnoto could help keep both players on their toes and give Marsch more opportunities to change the game off the bench. This lineup could also switch to a 4-3-3 with Adams at the base of the pivot, similar to how the USMNT works.

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2. Go all the way to America

If Marsh wants to act like the national team, Aaronson sees himself as an eighth – a role he fills Yunus Musah for the USMNT – and could play alongside Adams and McKennie in the middle of the park. Given how well the trio have worked alongside Musah for the national team, there’s reason to believe Aaronson can excel there too, especially with the midfield having a good understanding of space and each other. You could do the job.

This option would see Roca as the name to leave the XI, which feels tough given his performances but could also help Roca’s minutes managed after playing for Bayern Munich and less than 500 league minutes in the last two seasons has Espanol due to injuries and competitions. This is Roca’s healthiest season since 2020, but with the strain that pressing can put on players, not relying on him so much can go a long way.

3. Does Brenden Aaronson need rest?

Finally, it’s important to remember that Aaronson is only 21 years old and has only played 2,000+ league minutes in a season once, when he joined from Philadelphia union to RB Salzburg. Now, with over 1,500 minutes in the season and starting in all 19 games so far, it might be good to give him a break now and then.

Aaronson is crucial to Marsch’s system, but it’s also important to have him at his best and just like if Harrison was on the bench, Aaronson would provide a dynamic presence when needed, filling in anywhere in attack. It also offers formation flexibility to move McKennie onto the wing even in a 4-4-2 if needed.

The addition of such a versatile midfielder gives Marsch plenty of options and also shows how big the Premier League draw is. From a Champions League side to bottom half, McKennie could help bring European football back to West Yorkshire.