Aston Villa are preparing to make a new move for Juventus star Weston McKennie in the January transfer window.

What's the story?

Italian publication Sport Mediaset claimed that the Bianconeri would be willing to let the USA international go this summer, with "strong interest" from both Villa and fellow Premier League side Spurs.

While a move failed to materialise before the deadline, journalist Alan Nixon has now revealed that Dean Smith's side will look to make a fresh attempt at signing McKennie in the upcoming January transfer window.

He adds that Juventus have told the midfielder that he can find a new home as soon as possible, and Villa could now look to take advantage of the situation.

Fans will be buzzing

Hailed as a "leader" by David Wagner, McKennie's performances in the Bundesliga for Schalke earned him a high-profile move to Juventus, where former boss Andrea Pirlo was a big fan of his.

Calling him a "rock", the Italy icon added: "He’s young and can improve a lot. In my opinion, he’s a midfielder who can play as a No 8 in a three in midfield, right or left. He gets in the box and scores goals but he’s also very good at winning the ball back.

"His role is in a three in midfield as one of the two players on either side of the regista. Last year we played in a different system, so he had to adapt."

Dubbed as an "outstanding talent", the £22.5m-rated McKennie is as Pirlo says, a real box-to-box threat. While the end product hasn't always been there - he's only scored 11 goals in his short career thus far - all the key elements are: the power, the pace, the tackling and the energy to get up and down the pitch.

As per Whoscored, he has an impressive career average of making 1.3 tackles and 1.2 interceptions per game, while also managing just a shade under one shot and key pass per match too - a real indication of his all-action style of play.

Johan Lange renewing his interest in the midfielder is sure to have fans buzzing.

Given they failed to bring in a new central midfielder in the summer transfer window - the club were trying to sign Southampton's James Ward-Prowse - a move for McKennie would go a long way to addressing that iss

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