Willy Gnonto contacted by new club over Leeds United exit Friday as transfer request emerges after Everton bid rejected
Roma have been in contact with Willy Gnonto’s representatives over a possible move for the Leeds United forward, according to La Roma 24.
The Italian outlet reported via its website Friday afternoon (18 August) that in the “last few hours” club chief Tiago Pinto had contacted the Italian international’s camp to “understand the feasibility” of a move, although it is considered “not simple”.
Jose Mourinho’s side have been after attacking help since losing Tammy Abraham to a serious injury at the tail end of last season, while Gnonto is currently training alone at Thorp Arch as he tries to leave the club.
Everton have been leading the charge to sign Gnonto this summer and have put multiple bids on the table this summer, but Leeds United have so far remained steadfast in their refusal to let him go.
David Ornstein reported in The Athletic later on Friday night that Gnonto, 19, has now submitted a written transfer request to the club in the wake of the latest £25m bid from Goodison Park being rejected.
Writing on the wall?
The stakes keep increasing with every development around Gnonto and it is looking harder and harder for the Whites to get him back in a sustainable way any time soon.
He has now missed three games in a row following the 1-1 draw with West Brom on Friday night, with the transfer request coming out just before kick-off.
That suggests he isn’t backing down from whatever internal disciplinary measures the club have embarked on in the wake of him dropping out of the trip to Birmingham a week ago at the last minute.
Frankly, it seems unlikely that Roma will be able to secure a deal if Everton can’t, since the Premier League side have now offered up relatively good money, something the Serie A side weren’t able to do in their long, and ultimately failed, pursuit of Gianluca Scamacca from West Ham.
A European giant putting a massive fee on the table would probably give the Whites hierarchy a reasonable escape from this situation, and if it comes soon would leave some time to spend it.
But it looks to have become a matter of principle at Elland Road now with regards to Everton’s attempts, so Daniel Farke must feel that once the window closes he can get through to Gnonto and secure the necessary climb-down for him to be brought back into the fold.
What is clear for the next fortnight however, is that interest from outside isn’t subsiding and it looks like intent to depart from the teenager isn’t either.
In other Leeds United news, a £30m transfer windfall has been revealed as a club chief has broken his silence over the loan exodus from Elland Road.