Willy Gnonto agreement in dispute as Leeds United cling onto teenage star in the face of Everton transfer pursuit
There is “firm interest” from Everton in Willy Gnonto but a reported agreement over a fee with Leeds United has been disputed as “inaccurate”, i News reports.
The Italian international is one of a few Elland Road attackers who are wanted at Goodison Park, with Rodrigo also heavily linked to a Merseyside move.
Sport Italia reported on Monday night (10 July) that Gnonto was “close to wearing the Everton shirt” while Michele Criscitiello from the same outlet reported that a fee of €22million [£18.7m] had been agreed, but the latest update claims that is not the case.
According to Mark Douglas for i News: “Leeds United duo Rodrigo and Wilfried Gnonto are both on Everton’s radar, although reports of a fee being agreed for the latter is understood to be inaccurate at this stage.
“There is firm interest in the Italy international but Leeds are keen to keep hold of him and their valuation might rule the Toffees out unless further sales are brokered by the club.”
Holding on
Gnonto is a wanted man in the current transfer window, which is little surprise after his debut season in England, but it would be a turn up if he was quickly prized out of West Yorkshire by the Toffees without much of a fight.
He may well still leave this summer, and by all accounts Everton are heavily involved in the race to sign him, but if he does go it looks like it is going to be for more money and later on down the line.
Some of the biggest sides in England and Italy have been credited with interest in the teenager so if Daniel Farke were able to keep him at Elland Road for the Championship campaign it would be some achievement.
But with plenty of time left in his career to make the step up the idea of him staying is not completely out of the question this summer.
Sean Dyche is thought to have a tight budget at Goodison Park so without a release clause in his contract that lets him go on the cheap, as is reportedly the case with Rodrigo [Cope, 7 June], it won’t be straight forward for any club to sign Gnonto.
With the reports that put Gnonto the closest to an Everton switch largely coming from Italy it may be that sources close to him feel he personally is ready to take the opportunity, but on the club’s side it doesn’t look like they are ready to accommodate it yet.
In other Leeds United news, a Whites-linked forward “certainly” on the move amid reports of a medical booked for Tuesday.