Leeds United to take a stand with Willy Gnonto exit over Everton and Tottenham pursuit amid £20m verdict
Leeds United are expected to “make a point of taking a stand” against Willy Gnonto leaving this summer, according to Beren Cross.
The Leeds Live journalist reported in his Q&A on for the outlet’s website on Tuesday (15 August) that new chairman Paraag Marathe would be all the more set against letting the 19-year-old go because of how “powerless” the club has been with “virtually every other player”, and that even a fee of £20million wouldn’t be enough to change that.
Everton have been at the forefront of the race to sign the Italy international during the transfer window and have agreed personal terms already [Fabrizio Romano, 11 August].
But it emerged via London World’s Rahman Osman on Tuesday that Tottenham were now “not too far behind” the Toffees, although Cross said the question about the interest from North London was the “first I’ve heard of” it.
Gnonto has missed the past two Leeds United matches as he seeks a move away and is currently training alone as part of internal disciplinary measures from the club.
Stand off
It looks like Gnonto’s affordability has worked against him, as has the speed with which he has risen from virtual unknown in England to being linked to numerous clubs in a year.
Although he was a full Italy international when he arrived at Elland Road on last summer’s deadline day from FC Zurich he was a cut-price fallback option after the collapse of the move for Bamba Dieng.
He clearly didn’t sign for the anything like the wages that most of his first-team teammates were on because clauses to secure drastic drops in their pay after relegation came with release options which they have mostly now exercised [The Athletic, 15 August].
If he had arrived with a similar profile to the likes of Brenden Aaronson or Luis Sinisterra he would likely already be an Everton player, just as Jack Harrison now is on loan, but as he is the only key man the club can insist on keeping it looks like they plan to do so, come what may.
Since he has already missed two games, is training alone, and has seen plenty of supporters turn against him, the situation is clearly not good.
So the club’s endgame in this situation, presumably to tough it out until the deadline passes and hope to bring him back into the side once the exit door has shut, may be easier said than done.
In other Leeds United news, another “pending” exit is on the cards as a key player stayed away from Thorp Arch.