Leeds United transfer news: Willy Gnonto to Everton move questioned amid ongoing negotiations
Willy Gnonto could move to a “higher level” than Everton if he leaves Leeds United this summer but will have to balance how many opportunities he would get elsewhere, according to Dean Jones.
Football Transfers reported on 18 June that the Whites and the Toffees were already in “ongoing” talks over deals for the Italian international and teammate Jack Harrison, with Gazzetta dello Sport subsequently suggested on 27 June that the asking price was up to €20million [£17m] amid “concrete” moves from Goodison Park and Freiburg in Germany.
Having been a stand out feature for Leeds United after he broke into the team Gnonto subsequently faded from prominence under Javi Gracia, and while there is mooted interest from top sides in England and Italy Jones believes the teenager will need to consider where he will actually get to play.
Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, the former Eurosport journalist said: “I think Gnonto can go to clubs at a higher level than Everton, but he’s also got to weigh up game time and what his opportunities are going to be at this stage of his career.
“Last season was his first season in the Premier League, and it wasn’t even a full season because he was in and out of the team at different times. So, we haven’t seen him consistently producing.”
Key
Unless the expected new manager, Daniel Farke, takes the view that Gracia did then there is every reason to expect that Gnonto would play a lot for Leeds United next season should the club be able to convince him to stay.
Everton have been linked to multiple Whites players this summer and would surely benefit from the former FC Zurich man if they could push through a deal.
It seems unlikely that he would end up moving to a club fighting for league titles already as he would likely become a rotational player at this stage.
That is why there is certainly an argument that a full season as a leading light in the Whites attack might be beneficial for him even in the second tier, but as a full international already it is obviously going to be easier said than done to keep him around.
Given the relative scarcity of attacking options at Goodison Park he would probably play a decent amount for Everton, but it remains to be seen whether a deal is possible from a financial perspective.
Once Farke is announced it should become clearer whether there is a chance for the Whites to hold onto some of their key men, and fans would likely be delighted if Gnonto was one that stayed, but he doesn’t look like he is short of options if his priority continue in a top flight league.
In other Leeds United news, one pundit definitely wants the Whites to lose arguably the one man they want to keep the most.