George Overhill

Wed 9 August 2023 22:01, UK

Willy Gnonto asked to be left out of the Leeds United squad on Wednesday night because he wants the club to sell him amid interest from Everton and others, according to the Daily Mail.

The newspaper reported on their website the same night (9 August) that amid a rejected £15million bid from the Toffees, and enquiries from the likes of Burnley, Freiburg and Inter the 19-year-old is “frustrated” with the Whites refusal to part with him and “wants the opportunity to speak to interested clubs and return to playing top flight football”.

The Italian international started Leeds’ first game of the season on Sunday but was missing as they won their Carabao Cup tie with Shrewsbury as “he wants the club to consider letting him go before the window closes”, according to the Mail.

While Sean Dyche has a deal for Youssef Chermiti almost wrapped up and is now targeting PSG striker Hugo Ekitike, he has been after Gnonto for weeks, and the player’s latest move may have opened the door again.

Back on?

Everton appear to be the only club who have actually put any money on the table in their pursuit of Gnonto so could be considered at the front of the queue from a club perspective.

There had been suggestions that he was minded to stay at Elland Road rather than head to Goodison Park in light of two relegation battles on the spin, but now the season is underway he may have changed his mind.

With Leeds looking set to lose Tyler Adams to Chelsea it remains to be seen whether Gnonto’s decision softens their resolve to keep him, but it is certainly a substantial move towards an imminent exit if the reason he was missing is accurate.

If Dyche could add the youngster to his squad he would be bringing in a player who has proven he can cut it in the Premier League, even in a struggling side.

Although the addition of Chermiti is a positive development he is young and inexperienced, so while the “senior” second option that the manager was thought to want might be a description that doesn’t fit Gnonto he would be more of a sure thing in terms of ability to perform in the English top flight.

There is evidently heavy competition for his services if he does make a move, and were a Champions League side like Inter to make a concrete offer it would be tough to compete, but although this pursuit looked like it might be fizzling out it appears it may have now come back to life.

In other Everton news, Manchester United have been priced out of their pursuit of a major Goodison talent in what looks like a key boost to Dyche.