Wilfried Gnonto ready to quit Leeds United as West Ham ready new transfer
West Ham United are interested in signing Leeds United star Wilfried Gnonto this summer, according to The Boot Room.
Writing on their website (16 July), the news outlet reports that the Italy international has told Elland Road chiefs that he wants to leave after they failed to earn promotion back to the Premier League.
Everton currently leads the race ahead of Newcastle for a deal, but the 20-year-old is also attracting interest from the Hammers, Nottingham Forest, Leicester City, Wolves plus Serie A sides Como and Roma.
West Ham want to sign Wilfried Gnonto
Gnonto broke into the team at Leeds in the Premier League as an 18-year-old and impressed, but he couldn’t stop them from being relegated and pushed for a move last summer.
But the Whites were adamant he wouldn’t be sold and kept him against his wishes, before he got back into Daniel Farke’s team after initially being dropped and helped them to the playoff final.
However, after defeat to Southampton at Wembley, a move is now back on the cards for the player once dubbed a “special talent” by Jesse Marsch to return to the top flight.
Julen Lopetegui will want to strengthen his attack with Michail Antonio wanted by Saudi and MLS clubs [The Athletic, 15 May], while Danny Ings is wanted at Southampton too [talkSPORT, 28 May] and Said Benrahma has already left permanently.
Gnonto can play across the frontline and his youth would mean there is a fantastic resale value for the club too, so this is certainly one to keep an eye on in the coming weeks.
In other West Ham news, the club face “formidable” competition from Saudi Arabia for this new attacker transfer with personal terms not an issue.
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