Striker Wilfried Gnonto flew to England ‘early in the morning’ after ‘things happened fast’ over a move to Leeds United.
That’s according to Blick, who provide details on how the last-minute deadline day deal went down for Leeds.
They explain that first contacts between FC Zurich and Leeds had already taken place about three weeks ago but at that point the two clubs were ‘too far apart’ on their valuations of the player.
The negotiations were therefore put on hold and Jesse Marsch and co. went looking for other targets instead.
Gnonto himself was convinced he would be remaining in Switzerland, with reporters asking him on the FCZ campus if he would be staying and receiving a ‘broad Gnonto grin’ in response.
They finally reached an agreement before midnight, just in time for the transfer deadline, following a ‘long back and forth’.
Reports in England have stated the fee will be 4.5m francs with various bonus payments but FCZ sports director Marinko Jurendic has refused to comment on the numbers involved.
“With this transfer, it was right for all parties: for Willy, for Leeds and also for us,” was all he would say on the matter.
If those figures are correct, though, it means Leeds have ‘more or less doubled’ their initial offer and Zurich have ‘accommodated’ despite earlier looking for a double-digit figure.
Things were quickly wrapped up with Gnonto as he had been ‘in agreement for days’ with Leeds and will sign a five-year deal at Elland Road.
He flew to England in the early morning on a private jet and will be presented at some point today as Jesse Marsch’s new striker.
