Leeds United and Everton transfer bid in dispute amid ‘mixed messages’ on Willy Gnonto – Phil Hay
There have been contradictory messages from Leeds United and Everton over the situation around a transfer of Willy Gnonto, according to Phil Hay.
The Whites attacker, 19, has been heavily linked to an Elland Road exit this summer, with the Toffees emerging as the primary suitors.
A report from the Daily Mail on 16 July said a £15million bid had been made and rejected, but since then one side have essentially confirmed this and the other denied, and while the Italy international remains for now Hay does think there are more departures to come.
Summing up the current situation on The Square Ball (21 July, 11m 50s) The Athletic journalist said: “There is a lot of noise, particularly in Italy, about Gnonto and Everton. Nobody is denying that Everton like Gnonto.
“There’s mixed messages on this. At the Everton end they’re saying there hasn’t been a formal bid to Leeds. At the Leeds end the message that we’re getting is that there was a formal approach from Everton and that the valuation that is out there of about £15m was pretty accurate, and was also knocked back.
“They do have the advantage with him that he doesn’t have a release clause in his contact, so they’re not actually obliged to sell, but you know how it is.
“If you have a player who starts to agitate, and I’m not saying that he is, but if that was to happen, if there was an effort on his part or his camp to move him out of the Championship to a higher division then you suddenly have a decision to make… so I think [Paraag] Marathe is right, I think there will be departures.”
Hold out
Just as there are competing reports on whether a bid has been made there have also been contradictory suggestions on whether Gnonto wants to go or not.
Either way he hasn’t yet gone anywhere, and with the money mooted to be involved it is hard to see him doing so without a substantial increase and an indication that he doesn’t want to play for Daniel Farke in the Championship.
Despite extensive links to top clubs in England and Italy as the season headed to a close it appears that the interest has only been made clear at a level down from that, perhaps effected by falling out of favour under Javi Gracia.
If the manager has him available for the promotion push then he could be a stand-out in the second tier, and if all goes to plan he would be back in the top flight before he is 21.
It seems fairly straight forward that if he pushes to leave and the right sort of money is offered for him then he would move on, but if one or both of those boxes aren’t ticked then he stays.
Everton have financial concerns to keep in mind if they are the ones going everything they can to land Gnonto, but until the window closes it will remain a possibility.
In other Leeds United news, an unpopular transfer is now a “serious” possibility at Elland Road this summer.