Fulham defender and USMNT star Tim Ream has claimed that Leeds United midfielder Weston McKennie was close to joining the Cottagers in the January transfer window before signing up with the Whites.
McKennie was the third player to arrive at Elland Road last month after Max Wober and Georginio Rutter, having made the loan move from Juventus.
But Ream says that Fulham were also in contact with the Serie A club and that they contacted his agent in order to figure out the likelihood of him arriving at Craven Cottage instead to join him and Antonee Robinson at 'Fulhamerica'.
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"[There was] just a slight chance, yeah," Ream said on his Indirect Podcast. "It could've been a different three Americans rather than Weston, Tyler and Brenden up there.
"There was a bit of chatter, a bit of back and forth, from what I understand. There was some contact made after the rumour came out that Leeds were going to contact him. Fulham contacted his agent I believe. Not sure it went further than that.
"I know that from having conversations with our management that they like Wes as a player, they just weren't sure he'd be within their range to make a move for him."
McKennie has started well in his Leeds career so far, having already made three Premier League appearances next to his long-time friend and USA teammate Tyler Adams.
But Ream has said that the landscape of American football might've looked a lot different if the 24-year-old hadn't ended up at Elland Road.
"When everyone found out Leeds were in play, other teams were interested. I don't think it was just Fulham. It would've been cool to have another American."
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