Willy Gnonto wants Leeds United exit after Everton offer rejected, Charlie Cresswell also pushes to leave after bid
Leeds United have received bids for Willy Gnonto and Charlie Cresswell this summer and now both are pushing for an exit, according to Last Word on Sports.
The Whites have reportedly knocked back both the offers, with the attempt to sign the Italian international attacker, 19, believed to have come from Everton [The Athletic, 17 July].
Centre-back Cresswell, 20, had been linked with interest from Rangers although that was “comprehensively” denied by Rangers Review soon after (20 June), and the source of the offer for the Englishman is not named.
With the 49ers takeover finally completed on Monday night (18 July) new chairman Paraag Marathe has confirmed his intention to keep key players from leaving.
But according to the Last Word on Sports report a day after the deal went through a source has indicated that the two youngsters are now “actively” looking to leave Elland Road this summer in the wake of the offers coming in.
The opposite had been reported in Gnonto’s case by Leeds Live on Sunday (16 July), and Phil Hay even felt the prospect of a new deal to convince him to stay was on the cards on The Square Ball on Tuesday, but this update suggests the landscape may have changed.
Worry
Recent developments have put a much sunnier spin on a summer that was always going to be eventful, and possibly painful, following relegation.
The Gnonto bid being knocked back plus a clear intention emerging to retain him and others, before the news that Ethan Ampadu was on the way in as Daniel Farke’s first signing just as the long-awaited takeover got the green light from the EFL, all combined as very encouraging.
This new report would certainly put a dampener on proceedings if it is accurate, as both players stand to be in line for significant contributions in the Championship if they can be kept around.
Gnonto’s form dipped when he confusingly fell out of favour last term under Javi Gracia, but he was the star man during Jesse Marsch’s months in charge, and looks like the sort of player who could be a leading light in the second tier next term.
Cresswell fought back from adversity to become a valuable member of the Millwall line-up under Gary Rowett last season in his first sustained senior football, before his campaign was ended by a fractured eye socket.
His experience in the Championship puts him in a great position to make his Leeds United breakthrough, especially with fellow defenders Robin Koch, Diego Llorente and Rasmus Kristensen all having left on loan.
So if they force their way out of Elland Road before the window shuts it would undoubtedly be a disappointment for both Farke and the fanbase.
In other Leeds United news, the club are firmly in the race for a “20 goal a season man” after the first bid in the race was rejected.