Everton targets Willy Gnonto, Jack Harrison and Crysencio Summerville ‘actively’ want Leeds United exits amid rejected bid
Willy Gnonto is among a host of Leeds United players “actively” seeking to leave after a rejected bid from Everton, according to Last Word on Sports.
The 19-year-old attacker is joined by fellow Toffees targets Jack Harrison and Crysencio Summerville as Whites players who reportedly want out of Elland Road this summer.
Everton have been linked to moves for all three wingers, with a £15million offer rejected for Italy international Gnonto [Daily Mail, 16 June], talks held over a Englishman Harrison [Football Transfers, 18 June], and the Telegraph reporting interest in a £12m move for Dutch youngster Summerville on 20 June.
According to Last Word on Sports on Tuesday (18 July) the trio are part of an eight-strong group of Whites players who are “striving” for an exit.
The “ultimate factor” behind the potential exodus is considered to be a lack of Premier League football, after Everton survived last season at the expense of Leeds United and Leicester City on the final day (28 May).
The Athletic reported on 15 July that the Whites “genuinely” believe they can keep Gnonto despite the Everton advances, while the 6 July report from the same outlet said they want Harrison to stay in the face of Toffees interest too, but the players apparently have other ideas.
Door open?
If the latest report is accurate then it is a pretty dramatic turn of events in West Yorkshire, but it potentially plays right into Merseyside hands.
It seems obvious by now that Sean Dyche is very taken by the prospect of signing Gnonto, as the push in his direction looks relatively extensive.
There had been interest in Rodrigo from Elland Road as well, and for a bargain price, but he decided to move to Qatar in what has to go down as a significant disappointment at Goodison.
Affordability therefore comes into the equation with all three of his former teammates, but if they are agitating for exits it would certainly grease the wheels for an Everton deal if there is cash to spend this summer.
Harrison is reported to have a release clause in his contract of £16m so if the 26-year-old were happy to sign for the Toffees it shouldn’t matter what Leeds’ view is. The fact that it hasn’t yet happened suggests the club might have to seek a lower fee.
Gnonto on the other hand is thought not to have a clause [The Athletic, 17 July], so the ball is in the Whites’ court for him as has so far been proven, but should these players be pushing to leave it may weaken the new 49ers regime’s resolve to cling onto them.
Summerville is arguably the least proven of the three but still has quality, and with Demarai Gray looking like he might be off this summer there would be a space to fill.
Dyche needs help in the attacking areas and the latest suggestion is that three of the potential answers at Leeds might be willing to provide it.
In other Everton news, the Toffees could pick up a bargain as an “outstanding” Premier League scoring legend might be about to fall into their laps.