Report explains main reasons why Spurs chose not to sign Weston McKennie

The Athletic have revealed that Pape Matar Sarr’s impressive displays contributed to Tottenham’s decision to not pursue Weston McKennie during the January transfer window.

McKennie had been heavily linked with a move to Tottenham for several months and the speculation did not stop during the January window.

Pape Matar Sarr
(Photo by Tottenham Hotspur FC/Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty Images)

Journalist Ciro Venerato told TuttoJuve on the 17th of January that the USA international was ‘dreaming’ of a switch to Spurs ahead of the transfer deadline.

CBS Sports reporter Ben Jacobs claimed on 21 January that Spurs were one of the clubs who had enquired about the USA international’s availability, along with Aston Villa and Borussia Dortmund.

However, it was Leeds United who ended up winning the race for McKennie, snapping up the 24-year-old on a loan deal until the end of the season.

The Athletic have now explained that while the midfielder was on Tottenham’s radar, the club were only likely to push ahead with a concrete offer if one of their midfielders had left.

With Spurs deciding not to loan out Sarr on the back of his promising displays in January and with Rodrigo Bentancur returning to fitness, Antonio Conte’s men are said to have decided against pursuing McKennie.

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McKennie would have likely been the player that Tottenham turned to in January had Sarr been loaned out, given that Paratici and Conte are both seemingly fans of the player. The reason that the 24-year-old’s move to Leeds happened so late might have been that the midfielder was waiting to see if Spurs make a move for him.

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