Leeds United future for Willy Gnonto depends on Premier League ‘domino’ amid Everton development – Fabrizio Romano
Developments towards a Leeds United exit for Willy Gnonto have gone “a bit quiet” despite Everton interest, but Premier League developments could change that, according to Fabrizio Romano.
The transfer journalist reported in his Daily Briefing on Substack on Wednesday morning (2 August) that he’s “sure” the Whites are trying to keep the teenage attacker so he can be “one of their stars” after the Toffees were forced to move on to other targets.
But while it is good news on the exit front at Elland Road currently Romano warned that it will depend on the “strikers domino in the Premier League” to determine whether he remains going forward.
After extensive transfer interest from clubs in the English top flight and Serie A in Italy it has most recently boiled down to concrete interest from Goodison Park.
Gnonto, 19, is still widely tipped to leave, but after a £15million bid was turned down from the Toffees it appears Leeds United are in line to keep him at the moment, unless the landscape changes in the Premier League.
Tentative
The current situation staying as it is will be what everyone in the Elland Road hierarchy hopes continues for the next month.
The Italy international remaining in Daniel Farke’s squad for a promotion push is clearly a possible boost, but the increased pressure and hysteria that deadline day brings will pose a risk still.
Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester City were all credited with interest in Gnonto earlier this year [Gazzetta dello Sport, 21 March], while the likes of Aston Villa and Crystal Palace [Mirror, 24 June] have since been mooted during the transfer window.
So if any of those clubs get off to a poor start to their top flight season they could turn their attentions back to Elland Road and look to spend their way out of trouble.
And with Daniel Farke only able to bring in two first-team signings so far he may have no choice but to agree to let the attacker go if it makes the difference between getting some deals over the line or going without.
As long as he still has Jack Harrison, who is currently injured, Luis Sinisterra, Crysencio Summerville and the returning Dan James the manager can probably afford to lose one wide option.
But considering Gnonto’s age and further potential it would arguably be the biggest disappointment if he was the one to go.
In other Leeds United news, a third incoming deal is now on the cards before the season opener against Cardiff City.