Leeds United are preparing a second offer for FC Zurich striker Wilfried Gnonto, according to reports over the last 48 hours.

The Lowdown: Ongoing negotiations

The 18-year-old has now entered the final year of his contract in Switzerland, and Jesse Marsch has confirmed the Whites’ interest in bringing him to the Premier League.

Reports emerged from Italy just last week claiming that the Elland Road outfit held a conference call with the forward regarding a potential move after submitting an initial €5m (£4.2m) bid for him.

This offer was turned down as a result of Andrea Radrizzani being €3m (£2.5m) short of Zurich’s asking price of €8m (£6.7m), although it sounds like the Whites are now ready to take another bite at the cherry.

The Latest: Leeds preparing fresh Gnonto offer

According to reports from Italy over the weekend (via Sport Witness), Leeds are said to be preparing ‘a new offer’ for Gnonto and are ‘ready’ to prise him away from Franco Foda’s side.

The Whites are stated to be ‘always very interested’ in the teenager, with it highly likely that they ‘can raise’ their bid to meet his €7m-€8m (£5.9m-£6.7m) valuation.

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The Verdict: One for the future

Jesse Marsch is very short of depth at centre-forward, and with Patrick Bamford so injury-prone, it’s understandable to see why the 48-year-old is targeting a new striker before deadline day, and indeed Gnonto in particular.

The Verbania-born talent, who has been dubbed a ‘real diamond’ by football talent scout Jacek Kulig, made 15 goal contributions in 36 appearances across all competitions for Zurich last season and already has international experience, earning four caps for European champions Italy under Roberto Mancini.

He even became the Azzurri's youngest-ever goalscorer when netting in the 5-2 UEFA Nations League defeat to Germany in June, an indicator of his precocious talent.

If Victor Orta does manage to get this deal over the line, Gnonto could well develop into one of Leeds’ most exciting young talents who will offer plenty of promise for the future, adding another gifted young striker to the mix alongside Joe Gelhardt and Sam Greenwood.