Lazio open talks to sign Wilfried Gnonto in £21.8m deal from Leeds United, player wants move
Serie A giants Lazio have opened talks with Leeds about signing Wilfried Gnonto in January, with the player wanting to leave according to Calciomercato.
Writing on their website (2 November), the Italian news outlet report that the player is “counting the days until the winter transfer window reopens” having pushed to leave during the summer.
Gnonto still wants to leave Elland Road and Lazio have opened talks with the Whites about a move, although currently Leeds’ £21.8m asking price is deemed to high with further talks planned for the coming days.
“Wilfried Gnonto is counting the days until the winter transfer window reopens,” they wrote.
“His firm desire to leave Leeds was already clear last summer when his move to Everton was blocked just hours before the final bell. Now he has asked his agents to find him a new destination with priority reserved for the Italian championship
“Lazio like Gnonto a lot. In recent days, a summit took place between the boy’s agent and the sporting director Fabiani.
“The request of €25 million (£21.8m) made by Leeds is considered too high but the parties will update again in the next few days to understand if there is room to obtain a discount.”
Madness
After everything that went on in the summer, it’s hard to say that Leeds fans will be shocked that Gnonto reportedly wants to leave again.
He gave his all to push his way out at the start of the season and the 49ers held firm and made it crystal clear that he wasn’t for sale, but it will be interesting to see if that stance has now softened.
Gnonto missed a large chunk of the season with an injury and in that time has now found himself behind Crysencio Summerville and Daniel James in the pecking order on the wing.
Since he isn’t as important as he and many believed he would be to the team, the club may be more receptive to big offers in January as the money could then be reinvested to help Daniel Farke’s side earn promotion.
The priority now is surely keeping Summerville at the club considering the reported interest in him and his form, so if it’s one or the other then we’ll gladly wave goodbye to the Italian once and for all.
In other Leeds news, Whites star wants to leave in January with possible destinations mooted.