05:13
Thursday | November 06

Everton have been told that signing Leeds United star Wilfried Gnonto would be 'good business' as Daniel Farke tries to retain as much firepower as possible heading into their hopeful promotion charge in this upcoming season.

The Toffees have had a long-standing interest in the Italy international, having previously tried to sign him last summer but no deal was sorted. With Sean Dyche's side narrowly avoiding relegation after being handed two points deductions for breaching the Premier League's Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR) last season, it's clear he's planning on bolstering up his attacking force which was heavily lacking throughout the campaign.

With the sales of defender Ben Godfrey, winger Lewis Dobbin and a huge £50m exit for Amadou Onana to fellow Premier League outfit Aston Villa, Dyche could swoop back into the market for Gnonto given the position Leeds are currently in.

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Their failure to secure promotion last season had left the club in need of repaying a significant amount of transfer fees as well as an enormous wage bill that needs to be cut down ahead of the 2024/25 campaign, and with 13 departures already, it's clear they're doing what they can to drum up funds by cutting dead weight.

However, some of their top stars from last season have already been poached with Archie Gray's £40m move to Tottenham potentially being the first of many vital players that leave Elland Road before the window shuts. Crysencio Summerville has been heavily linked with moves to either AS Roma, West Ham or Chelsea while Gnonto's links to Everton won't go away quietly.

Gnonto's eight goals and two assists across all competitions under manager Daniel Farke was far from his best numbers but former England midfielder Carlton Palmer believes that with his experience and talent at such a young age, a price of £25m would be a solid piece of business for the Toffees.

Speaking to Football League World, Palmer said: " Gnonto scored eight goals and two assists in 36 appearances last season and the 20-year-old never really caught fire last season like the likes of Summerville, but he has a tremendous future ahead of him, he is a seriously talented player.

"Everton went after him before, and weren’t able to get him. So, a 20-year-old at a signing of £25 million, I think it’s good business because Everton are believed to be getting about £50 million for Amadou Onana, who is going to Aston Villa.

"He’s still 20-years-of-age, so this would represent a good bit of business by Leeds United, who paid just £3.8 million for Gnonto in 2022. There have been a few issues with Gnonto, but he is a young player and he has got plenty and plenty of ability, he has played in the top flight, I think this is a fair fee.

"I know Everton were in for him before, and are looking to pay around £20 million, and then the fee dropped and then Leeds weren’t interested in about £10 to 15 million. It’s a good bit of business by Leeds United, and a good bit of business by Everton.

"They’re bringing in a talented player, and still having £25 million or so to invest in the market from the sale of Onana. Good business by Leeds, further reducing their wage bill, and giving them money to reinvest in the squad, having already sold Archie Gray to Tottenham Hotspur."

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