Leeds United to keep Willy Gnonto after big-money Everton transfer offer rejected
Leeds United are keen to hold onto Willy Gnonto after rejecting a big-money bid from Everton, according to Nancy Froston.
The Athletic journalist reported via X on 6 August that the Toffees had thought they were close to a deal for the Italian but the situation has now changed after they signed Jesper Lindstrom.
On the outlet’s website she added that the Whites claim they turned down £23million from Goodison Park, although Everton have a different view of the matter.
But Crysencio Summerville’s exit to West Ham is also said to made the advancing negotiations for a Gnonto deal difficult for the Toffees and the pursuit appears to have now broken down.
Crysencio Summerville exit to West Ham ends Leeds United talks with Everton
Losing Gnonto and Summerville during the transfer window wouldn’t have been totally unforeseen but if both departed so late on it would have been a blow, especially after Archie Gray and Glen Kamara have already gone.
It was disappointment enough for Gray to move to Tottenham for £40million [Fabrizio Romano, 2 July] given his family history at Elland Road, and although the fee was a big one and it helped bring Joe Rodon back it was still not the massive deal many would have hoped if the teenager was to go.
The hope was that his sale would have allowed Leeds to hold out for the top fee on any of their other stars, and that appeared to be the case with Summerville [talkSPORT, 30 July], but the Dutch winger ultimately left for around £25million [Florian Plettenberg, 3 August].
In both Gray and Summerville’s cases dreaded release clauses materialised to weaken the club’s position and bring back memories of last summer, so fans may be feeling uncertain about the futures of various key men right up to the deadline again.
Gnonto infamously failed to force his way to Goodison Park a year ago as he was one of the few in the squad without an exit clause in his deal, and it looks like the club are ready to cling onto the 20-year-old again.
But assuming no club comes in and puts a massive offer on the table it would appear that Daniel Farke won’t need to deal with the same sort of fall out he did last time, as Froston has reported that the young attacker is more settled at the club than he was 12 months ago.
In other Leeds United news, a Premier League rival has been ruled out of the race as a major Whites bid has been mooted for a new signing.
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