Stadio Dino Manuzzi, Cesena, Italy - June 7, 2022, Italy's Wilfried Gnonto.
Leeds United are now in pole position to sign FC Zurich forward Wilfried Gnonto, according to reports.
The Lowdown: New offer prepared
The Whites have already seen a £4.2m bid for the 18-year-old turned down and are currently in the process of preparing an improved second offer.
This initial rejection appears to have given another Premier League club hope that they can hijack Jesse Marsch’s move for the teenager, but a fresh update would suggest that the opposite is true.
The Latest: Leeds favourites to sign Gnonto
TEAMtalk report that Leeds have ‘already agreed personal terms’ with Gnonto and are now ‘at the front of the queue’ to sign him.
Bournemouth’s technical director Richard Hughes had ‘watched’ the Italian in action earlier this week, having been ‘alerted’ to the fact that Victor Orta’s proposal wasn’t accepted.
However, it is stated that talks are ‘progressing’ with Andrea Radrizzani and the 49ers, with the player ‘favouring a move’ to Elland Road.
The Verdict: Get it done…
Leeds have a solid reputation for developing and introducing younger players into the first-team fold, and Gnonto would be able to follow a similar pathway should he put pen to paper at Elland Road.
Marsch has worked wonders with the likes of youngsters Joe Gelhardt and Sam Greenwood, both of whom are now firm members of the senior squad, and the Italian teenager – who has been hailed as ‘different class’ by sports journalist Josh Bunting – appears to be cut from a similar cloth.
Italy head coach Roberto Mancini must really value Gnonto, having capped the youngster four times for his nation at such a young age, and with the player already netting 13 goals at senior level for club and country, there’s every chance that he would flourish under Marsch’s guidance for many years to come.
Considering the lack of centre-forward depth in the Whites’ squad and the unenviable injury record of Patrick Bamford over the past 12 months, the Elland Road faithful would surely embrace having such a promising young striker added to the ranks, too.
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