Express & Star

Aston Villa set to join fight for Weston McKennie

Villa are considering a swoop for Schalke midfielder Weston McKennie.

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The 21-year-old USA international is set to leave the German club this summer and has been strongly linked with Southampton.

Villa may now also join the race for McKennie, who has made 91 appearances in four seasons with Schalke and is valued at around £20million. The Texan is thought to have turned down a move to Hertha Berlin last month in the hope of securing a move to the Premier League.

Midfield is one the areas boss Dean Smith is looking to strengthen during the transfer window as Villa look to consolidate their position in the top flight this term.

The primary focus is on attacking areas with Ollie Watkins still the top striker target. A new goalkeeper may also be brought in once positions of greater priority have been sorted. Villa fielded four different keepers last season with both No.1 Tom Heaton and Jed Steer suffering long-term injuries.

Defender Bjorn Engels, who missed the closing month of the season with an Achilles injury, is also training again.

However, club record buy Wesley, who suffered a serious knee injury in the same match as Heaton, still has a little way to go in his recovery.