Leeds United transfer news: Willy Gnonto wanted by league champions amid Sean Dyche ‘concern’ at Everton
Willy Gnonto would prefer to leave Leeds United for Serie A than Everton if Sean Dyche doesn’t “sell the project” at Goodison Park well enough, according to Dean Jones.
The Elland Road attacker, 19, has been chased by the Toffees all summer after strong links to Serie A prior to the start of the transfer window, and reportedly now has interest from Italian champions Napoli.
He is thought to prefer a return to the Premier League if he leaves the Whites but after falling out of favour in West Yorkshire after Jesse Marsch was sacked Jones has questioned whether Dyche would be the right manager for him, and has backed him to move to Italy instead.
The former Eurosport journalist told GIVEMESPORT: “If Everton could replace Demarai Gray with Wilfried Gnonto, I would see that as a great upgrade by the club. In terms of potential to do great things in the Premier League, Gnonto has it all.
“I am very surprised a top club has not come in for him formally at this stage, and Everton should take advantage of that.
“My only concern would be whether Dyche is the right type of manager for him. I thought Leeds initially did a great job of managing Gnonto last season, but as the season wore on and the managers changed, their use of him was questionable.
“Gnonto is so young but also has a real sense of happiness and joy about him as a person, and it is very important that is reflected in his game.
“Obviously, he wants to be in the Premier League, but another relegation battle will not suit him. He needs to be able to flourish and have a bit of freedom. If he gets to Everton, I hope he has the license to do that.
“If they don’t sell the project under Dyche well enough, I think he will fancy the idea of going to Serie A instead. Napoli are interested in him.”
Top level
It may not be the Premier League but plenty of Leeds United fans would be able to stomach a Napoli transfer, as reigning Italian champions, over an Everton one, after two relegation battles.
Dyche is clearly ambitious at Goodison Park, but their struggles in the transfer market this summer still make it touch and go as to whether they will be improved to a great degree in the new season.
Napoli lost manager Luciano Spalletti after winning the title, so under new boss Rudi Garcia there are some questions too, but not to the same degree and with the key sweetener of Champions League football.
Top flight English sides can generally outspend their Italian counterparts but, while there appears to be some money to spend at Everton, the financial pressures on the Toffees make that less of a foregone conclusion.
With less than a week now until the Championship season gets under way there is the obvious chance that Gnonto at least starts that campaign as a Leeds United player.
And having got this far with him still part of the ranks hopes will be growing that he will remain past the close of the window, as he could be a key man for Daniel Farke in the second tier.
The January window would represent another danger but for now the manager needs to do all he can to convince him to stick around for half the season at least and cross that second bridge when he comes to it.
In other Leeds United news, a man with inside knowledge of the club’s workings has given a “hugely difficult” verdict on promotion.