Everton have had a second bid for Willy Gnonto rejected by Leeds United as the Toffees push to sign the wantaway attacker, according to The Times.
The newspaper reported via their website on 10 August that the Whites remain “insistent” that they aren’t going to sell the Italian international in light of the two offers, with the first said to value the 19-year-old at £16million but the amount of the second unclear.
It was reported by the Daily Mail on the 16 July that the original offer from Goodison for Gnonto had been knocked back, but it now appears they have twice been unsuccessful in the ongoing pursuit.
The attacker was left out of the Leeds squad to face Shrewsbury Town in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday night (9 August), reportedly because he had asked to be omitted as he wants to leave amid interest from Everton, Burnley and others.
Sean Dyche has so far signed Arnaut Danjuma on loan and Youssef Chermiti for up to £15m from Sporting, but wants more in attacking departments.
The initial race for Gnonto’s signature looked to have died down somewhat in the wake of the first rejected bid being reported last month.
But amid internal developments in the Leeds United squad and an apparent follow-up bid it looks like the push could go down to the wire in the final weeks of the window.
While there no indication of what the second offer was worth money has now been spent on Chermiti and it seems there is cash available for attacking moves.
Despite Gnonto and the new Portuguese arrival being the same age the Italian is some way further along in his development, as a full international with Premier League experience.
It is clear that Leeds aren’t giving up without a fight, and given their precarious situation until the deadline passes that is little surprise, but the teenager removing himself from contention for a game is a pretty significant decision.
There remains competition and he won’t exactly be cheap if a deal can be done but after weeks of pursuit it would give Dyche a notable late-window boost.
In other Everton news, Manchester United have made a key decision in their pursuit of a Toffees star as they focus on their next “priority”.
