Aston Villa were interested in Weston McKennie last summer, according to Express and Star journalist Luke Hatfield.

Italian giants Juventus signed McKennie on a one-year loan deal last August with an option to buy. A report in the Independent states that Tottenham Hotspur have spoken to Juventus about signing the highly-rated American and that sources believe a move for under £40m may be possible.

McKennie featured 46 times for Juventus last season, scoring six goals and providing three assists in all competitions in his first year in Turin. Luke Hatfield says that Aston Villa were interested in the 22-year-old last summer, telling Football FanCast: “It’s a weird one because, you know, last summer if he was available the same way he was and I think he ended up going to Juve last summer, then yeah Villa would have been all over it. I mean, they were interested.”

Calciomercato.com reported earlier this week that Villa are again interested in McKennie this summer and with interest from Spurs also, there is a battle for his signature during this transfer window.

Villa have done some really good business this summer bringing in Leon Bailey, Axel Tuanzebe, Danny Ings, Ashley Young and Emi Buendia. Dean Smith’s side managed to respond to an opening day Premier League defeat at the hands of Watford with a 2-0 victory against Newcastle United last weekend.