Everton close on £18m-plus Willy Gnonto deal with Leeds United as baffled Sky Sports pundit fears transfer set to ‘unravel’
We’re delighted to welcome former Everton striker Kevin Campbell as our exclusive columnist. Each week the former Toffees captain will be giving his views on the biggest talking points at Goodison Park…
Kevin Campbell doesn’t understand how Everton can be closing in on a deal to sign Willy Gnonto from Leeds United, with cash the key factor.
Italian journalist Alfredo Pedulla reported 3 July that the Toffees had taken “important steps” early which put them ahead in the race for the youngster, and Sport Italia CEO Michele Criscitiello‘s late-night update on Monday (10 July) claimed an agreement was now in the offing at around €22million [£18.7m].
Everton are chasing a host of Elland Road attackers after the Whites were relegated, with a cut-price move for Rodrigo thought to be very doable at around £3m, but since Gnonto, 19, will cost far more Campbell remains sceptical of success.
The baffled Sky Sports pundit reacted exclusively to Goodison News, saying: “How are they at the front of the queue?
“The bottom line is – money. You can shout first if you want but it all boils down to money at the end of the day.
“If Everton are struggling to entice free players, when you’re going to have to negotiate with somebody like Leeds, Gnonto’s a good player, a very good player, but you’re going to have to put money on the table.
“And that’s where everything will maybe, possibly, start to unravel.
“It’s a shame but we have to call it like it is.
“Is it something that Everton could and should get done? Yeah of course.
“But the bottom line is it’s going to come down to sticking money on the table.”
In light of the wide expectation that, pending further investment or a big sale, the transfer budget at Goodison isn’t extensive it would be a major coup to sign Gnonto for a significant fee when everyone from Aston Villa and Freiburg [Pedulla] to Juventus [Gazetta dello Sport, 26 March] and Chelsea, Manchester City and Arsenal [GdS, 21 March] have been linked.
If Gnonto’s arrival is imminent it suggests there was slightly more of a budget that feared or that Leeds have accepted a manageable payment structure some way into the future.
While Ashley Young’s free transfer arrival is now expected within a day or two, Goodison-linked strikers such as Alfredo Morelos and Moussa Dembele are still available without the same noise around them.
So a deal for Gnonto would certainly be a surprise but without doubt a positive one at this stage.
In other Everton news, Sean Dyche wants to raid Manchester United for a “top pro” this summer.