Tottenham Hotspur aren't afraid to pay the asking price for mooted January target Weston McKennie, according to reports in Italy...

What's the word?

Calciomercato.it claim the American midfielder is 'on the list of potential exits' from Juventus this winter and Spurs are amongst the teams monitoring his situation ahead of a possible swoop.

The Old Lady value him in the region of €30m (£25m) to €35m (£30m), with both sporting director Fabio Paratici and manager Antonio Conte keen on his signature.

Premier League rivals West Ham United are also linked with interest by the report.

Bye-bye Alli

The 23-year-old has gone from outcast to a regular under Massimiliano Allegri, starting three of their last four Serie A outings and in return, he current rates out as his seventh-best performer, as per WhoScored ratings.

McKennie has been dubbed a "leader" and an "outstanding talent" by ex-Schalke boss David Wagner, one that is capable of playing any central midfield role required, making him a very intriguing fit for Conte's system, which relies more on the middlemen than wingers.

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"In the No.6 or No.8 position he has the mentality, a real working mentality that you need. And he's brave on the ball as well. He can be one of the best midfielders in the Bundesliga," he added.

His versatility is reflected by his numbers across several key statistics, with WhoScored describing his strengths as primarily being his defensive contribution.

In the Serie A this campaign, he's attempted 2.2 tackles, 1.2 interceptions (third-best), 1.3 dribbles and 1.6 shots per 90 minutes, showing he's all over the pitch contributing in abundance.

This makes the £22.5m-rated star a much better fit for the Italian boss than someone like Dele Alli, who has been much-maligned in recent times.

Last month, The Athletic revealed that for the very first time, Spurs would be open to offloading the struggling 25-year-old midfielder and after failing to start either of Conte's first two matches in charge, it's hard to imagine things have changed much.

McKennie could be his replacement in the engine room, one that would be of much more use to the 52-year-old.

AND in other news, £25m-rated flop has handed Antonio Conte a fresh dilemma at Spurs...