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Wilfried Gnonto to snub January Everton move in favour of Leeds United promotion push
Wilfried Gnonto looks set to snub a January move to Everton in favour of remaining at Leeds United to assist with their promotion push, according to Ben Jacobs.
The former talkSPORT commentator suggested that, despite a positive start to the season for the Toffees, relegation could still be on the cards come next summer.
Jacobs claimed Gnonto’s ultimate goal is to play in the Premier League, and that by staying with Leeds, he will give himself the opportunity to get them back up, but if they fail to earn promotion, he could consider his options.
Speaking to GIVEMESPORT on 15 November, Jacobs claimed: “Leaving mid-season to a Premier League club, even though Everton, whom he was most strongly linked with, have made a very positive start to the season, you don’t know where you will be at the end of the campaign.
“You also don’t know where Leeds will be at the end of the season. Gnonto didn’t want to move to Everton because he hated it at Leeds. It was because he wanted to play in the Premier League.
“So, if you move mid-season, who knows whether you’ll be in the Premier League at the end of the season if you move to a top-flight club?”
All parties should move on
Gnonto to Everton was a seemingly endless discussion of the summer transfer window, but when the move didn’t materialise before the September deadline, it became clear that the deal was never going to happen.
It was, however, always likely to rear its head again ahead of the January transfer window, such was the relentless nature of Everton’s pursuit, but it may be time for all parties to move on.
A £25.7million was made on deadline day [Shamoon Hafez, 1 September], but was not enough, so whether Everton could afford to match or better that bid in January looks likely, although it may come down to the outcome of the ongoing takeover talks by 777 Partners.
The suggestion that Everton and Leeds may swap places in the summer would certainly have been on the cards at the start of the season, but the recent run of form for Sean Dyche’s side has eased concerns on Merseyside and the club are looking to push ahead from this point.
In other Everton news, the club could benefit as Fabrizio Romano shared new 777 transfer news.