Leeds United have rejected a £15m bid from Premier League Everton for Italian forward Wilfried Gnonto and remain steadfast in their stance he is not for sale
Fifteen million pounds from Everton for Wilfried Gnonto has been knocked back by Leeds United. The Italian forward is a key part of 49ers Enterprises’s plan for next season and the Goodison Park offer is not enough to test that vision.
There are four years still to run on the 19-year-old’s contract at Elland Road, which has emboldened United’s hope they can retain Gnonto beyond September 1. Gnonto may have struggled for consistency and minutes through last season’s run-in, but a hot streak of four goals in seven games between early January and early February turned a lot of heads.
There is a firm belief, after what he did to Premier League right-backs, Gnonto can be a consistent match-winner in the Championship. Gnonto is expected to report back for pre-season at Thorp Arch tomorrow, after a delayed restart following international duty, but there have been no demands for a transfer out while he’s been away.
The £15m offer from Everton, first reported by the Daily Mail, would have more than trebled United’s outlay on Gnonto last September. When Victor Orta swooped for the little-known teenager at FC Zurich the fee was reportedly a fraction under £4m, which was quickly made to look like immense value by Gnonto’s performances.
It remains to be seen whether Sean Dyche’s outfit return with another bid, but chairman-elect Paraag Marathe, chief executive Angus Kinnear and the incoming board are determined to hold onto the teenager if they can. Leeds fans will hope to get their first glimpse of Gnonto in York next Saturday when they play Monaco in a friendly
