Leeds United told they may be 'forced' to accept £35m Wilfried Gnonto Premier League offer

Leeds United have been told they may be forced to accept a deal for Wilfried Gnonto in the summer transfer window if it's around the £35m mark.

The Italian international helped the Whites make a dramatic push for promotion back to the Premier League under manager Daniel Farke, contributing eight goals and two assists across all competitions. But they failed to secure either automatic promotion place despite finishing on 90 points having won just one of their last six league matches.

It meant a trip to the play-off final against Southampton but the club's Wembley woes continued, leaving them heartbroken after a 1-0 defeat. The result condemned them to a second straight year of trying to get out of the Championship. It's 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.

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Gnonto is one of the likeliest figures in the dressing room to depart from Elland Road this summer, given his impressive performances in the Championship over the past nine months. It's been reported that Everton are one of many Premier League clubs interested in the star after already securing Leeds attacker Jack Harrison on another season-long loan spell.

Now the club's former CEO Keith Wyness has claimed the club 'like' the star and that any offer they send Leeds may force the Whites' hand after their failed promotion chase at the end of last season. He told Football Insider‘s Insider Track podcast: "There’s been talk of Gnonto coming to Everton, the club do like him from what I know. It’s difficult for Leeds because they do have to sell.

"They need to get an auction going, and that doesn’t appear to be happening – but we never know which clubs are coming in for him behind the scenes. I would value him at around the £30-35million mark.

"The market is depressed because of their ability to command a higher price. He’s a talent, he could do well in the Premier League – but clubs know that Leeds have to sell. This is going to be a worrying window for the club."