Everton would need to pay close to £40million to sign Leeds United star Wilfried Gnonto
Everton would have to pay close to £40million if they want to land a deal to sign Leeds United forward Willy Gnonto, according to Dean Jones.
Speaking to GiveMeSport, the former Eurosport journalist said on 23 August that the Toffees will not go above £25million in their pursuit of the Italy international.
But he still believes the 19-year-old is “hopeful” that he can secure a move away from Elland Road this summer despite returning to training with the Whites.
“I still believe he is hopeful of a big club coming in for him that offers an escape route but at this moment no one is coming forward with big enough money so he is stuck,” said Jones.
“Everton would not go above £25million and Leeds are not even considering that sort of money because of how wild the transfer market has been this summer. I think it’s going to take closer to £40million and there are not many clubs that are going to go there.
“I understand his frustrations and that he is worried about how a season in the Championship could impact on his international ambitions in the next year, but at the end of the day, if you sign a contract, you don’t have a release clause, this is what you open yourself up to.”
Unlikely
It looks as though a deal to take Gnonto from Leeds to Everton this summer is becoming more unlikely with every day that passes.
The fact the forward has now returned to training with this Whites is massive because that probably means he is open to playing for the club again after previously asking to be omitted from the squad.
Although it’s not good from a Blues perspective, it is kind of refreshing in a way to see a club hold firm and not give in to player power by just allowing him to move.
There are questions about whether that is the type of player Sean Dyche would want around the group anyway, even if he is still only a teenager and it’s an experience he will probably learn from.
If the fee it will take to get him out of West Yorkshire is indeed £40million, then there is no way the Toffees are going to go that high and it’s best they quickly move on to other targets with just over a week left of the transfer window.
In other Everton news, Farhad Moshiri has received two new offers to purchase a stake in the club.