‘Complicated’: Agent of ‘quality’ Wilfried Gnonto says Everton target ‘blocked’ from move

The agent of Leeds United attacker Wilfried Gnonto has stated that the Yorkshire club are preventing the Italian player from moving to a Premier League club, with Everton linked with the 19-year-old.

Indeed, the forward’s representative Claudio Vigorelli states that the situation is ‘complicated’ because the Elland Road club are ‘blocking’ Gnonto’s potential exit.

Speaking via the Yorkshire Post, Vigorelli said: “The situation is complicated. Leeds are blocking the requests we have in the Premier League.”

Everton recently had a £15m bid turned down for the ‘quality’ Italian international, though inews recently reported that the Blues ‘retain a live interest’ in the forward.

Gnonto has refused to play during Leeds United’s return to the Championship, prompting some of the club’s fans to sing ‘refused to play, don’t come back’.

Leeds have repeatedly stood firm despite Gnonto’s desire to leave and seem determined to keep the teenager at the club.

Wilfried Gnonto looks unviable, Everton must move on

Everton have already secured midfielder Jack Harrison on a season-long loan deal from Daniel Farke’s side, while Tyler Adams departed the club last week as the post-relegation player exodus continues.

Indeed, Everton had been linked with an approach for Adams, but the USA international put pen to paper in a £20m deal with Bournemouth.

However, one player Leeds seem determined to retain is Wilfried Gnonto and his agent’s latest comments indicate that the Yorkshire club are reluctant to do any further business with the Toffees.

Wilfried Gnonto has been high on Sean Dyche’s agenda all summer, however Serie A side Atalanta are also interested and have money to spend following Rasmus Hojlund’s £72m move to Manchester United.

Everton need to strengthen before the end of this window and if Leeds are intent on keeping hold of Gnonto, then perhaps our energy is better spent looking at alternative targets.