Leeds United have ‘closed the door’ on Everton as they continue to pursue Wilfried Gnonto this summer.
That’s according to journalist Ignazio Genuardi, who says the Blues may need to do some convincing to get one of their primary targets in this window.
Genuardi reports that after missing out on Almeria’s El Bilal Toure, who is close to joining Atalanta instead, Everton have pressed ahead with their efforts to sign alternatives.
Gnonto is one of them and numerous reports over the last few weeks have indicated that Everton are close to doing a deal for him after his impressive first season in the Premier League last year.
However, there appears to have been little progress on the potential deal over the last week or so and Genuardi may have an explanation.
He says that Gnonto is a ‘concrete target’ for Everton as an alternative to El Bilal Toure, but Leeds have ‘closed the door’ on a potential transfer for the time being.
What that means isn’t made explicitly clear, but it seems those in charge at Elland Road are blocking the youngster from leaving after a raft of departures already this summer following relegation to the Championship.
Whether Everton continue to push for a deal remains to be seen but Genuardi does claim that they are now moving to sign Kelechi Iheanacho from Leicester instead.
That would suggest that after giving up on El Bilal Toure they may now do the same with Gnonto, who Leeds are refusing to sell anyway.
Après avoir raté M.Dembélé et E.B.Touré, #Everton s’active sur le dossier de l’attaquant nigérian #Iheanacho (Leicester). Il s’agit de l’une des nouvelles prios, #Gnonto étant un autre objectif concret, même si Leeds a fermé la porte. #Mercato
— Ignazio Genuardi (@IgnazioGenuardi) July 27, 2023
