Everton transfer news: Willy Gnonto pursuit from Leeds United reaches conclusion after £25.7m bid as Alan Myers shares update
Willy Gnonto is “not going” to leave Leeds United despite a last-gasp push from Everton to sign him on deadline day, according to Alan Myers.
The Sky Sports pundit was already sceptical over the chances of success as the Toffees reignited their attempts to sign the Italian international but shared an update that looked definitive on deadline day evening (1 September) to apparently end hopes of a deal.
BBC Sport’s Shamoon Hafez had reported earlier on Friday that a £25.7million bid from Goodison Park had been rejected as it still fell short of the £30m valuation and Leeds didn’t want to sell, but Sky Sports had reported the Toffees were still “doing their utmost” to “prise” him out.
Everton had led the chase of the 19-year-old through the summer and had agreed personal terms over a move, before holding out at Elland Road and handing in a transfer request.
However, after disciplinary action from the club he was brought back into the side last weekend by Daniel Farke and scored on his return.
Out of reach
There has been no indication all summer from Leeds that they were prepared to facilitate a deal to let Gnonto leave unless major money was put on the table.
There have to be a few doubts as to whether they would have even done business if the asking price was met, or whether they had chosen a number they knew the Toffees would struggle to match.
Having fallen short with bids up to around £25m previously this summer that money was then committed to sign Beto from Udinese, who is surely going to be a more important factor in Sean Dyche’s side.
Gnonto would have likely also been a hit at Goodison Park but a striker had always been the primary requirement with Dominic Calvert-Lewin struggling so frequently with injury problems.
Although Jack Harrison has made the trip from Elland Road on a loan deal, and Arnaut Danjuma has also come in to strengthen the wide areas, Dyche wanted extra wide men still and was said to have deals in the works heading into the final day.
Alex Iwobi’s late exit to Fulham [Fabrizio Romano, 1 September] must have raised hopes that it could fund a Gnonto move as a replacement, but it now looks like the manager will have neither this season amid a disappointing final day.
Until the clock strikes 11pm, and potentially for a few hours after that, anything can still happen but Myers sounds unequivocal on the Leeds man leaving.
In other Everton news, the club have landed a cash windfall for a player who hasn’t played a single game for the manager.