According to a new claim this weekend, Premier League side Nottingham Forest have made a £16.9 million approach to buy a Leeds United player ahead of the summer transfer season.
Leeds chairman Parag Marathe has already stated that the club must sell players this summer. It follows accusations that Leeds owes £190 million in player transactions and the necessity to comply with Financial Fairplay.
Players such as Crysencio Summerville, Archie Gray, Ilia Gruev, and others have been connected with departures this summer. Marathe has even left the door open for the future sale of Gray, which would enrage Leeds fans.
But one player is largely likely to leave Elland Road in the next weeks and months: Willy Gnonto. The winger attempted to force himself out of the Yorkshire club last summer by refusing to play three games.
Nottingham Forest make a £16.9 million bid for Leeds United player.
Indeed, Gnonto, 20, did not play against West Bromwich Albion or Birmingham City, as well as against Shrewsbury Town in the Cup. However, he returned to the squad under Daniel Farke, first as a marginal player.
He was one of several players added to the squad in January, including Gruev, Junior Firpo, and Patrick Bamford. He was first-choice in the second part of the season, scoring nine goals for Leeds.
However, he failed to live up to the initial excitement surrounding the 13-time Italian international in the Premier League. There is a notion that Gnonto is capable of much more, and Africa Foot claims Forest has made an offer.
Forest are not the only team interested in signing Leeds player Gnonto.
It is said that Forest have offered £16.9 million to recruit Gnonto and are’very interested’ in bringing the Italian to The City Ground this summer. Leeds have yet to respond, although a decision is due very soon.
Forest is not the only club rumored to be interested in signing Gnonto. The player is claimed to want to return to his native country, and hometown club Inter Milan is interested in signing a local talent.
It’s unclear whether Forest is a positive move for Gnonto. Callum Hudson-Odoi, Nicolas Dominguez, Anthony Elanga, and other key Forest players will all be competing for playing time.