Everton have made a habit out of returning to sign old transfer targets, with Sean Dyche and Kevin Thelwell identifying players they want, and waiting as long as it takes to tie them down.
It was revealed that Iliman Ndiaye had been a player they watched for some time before striking this summer, coming just days after Jack Harrison returned to the club for a second loan spell in as many years.
Even Arnaut Danjuma, who had flagrantly snubbed the Toffees at the eleventh hour in January 2023, would eventually make the move the following summer to endure a season stuck to the bench.
Their persistence in the market is admirable, and they could be set to repeat this feat again, but with arguably the most sought-after player of Dyche’s tenure at Everton.
Everton open talks to sign Championship winger
The latest comes courtesy of transfer specialist Fabrizio Romano, who actually took to X to suggest that the Toffees’ attention has diverted towards a young, tricky Championship winger.
Given how Everton failed to sign Jaden Philogene despite strong interest, it seems that they have not been dissuaded from wading into the EFL market, and could come out with a familiar face under their arm.
After all, Everton’s interest in Wilfried Gnonto, once valued at £30m, has spanned years, and this could finally mark the summer when they get their man.
Romano wrote: ‘Everton have genuine interest in Willy Gnonto as talks took place with player’s camp recently.
‘Negotiations underway to understand deal conditions, as @ElBobble reports.
‘Gnonto’s keen on the move.’
The Wilfried Gnonto transfer saga starts again
Given how their efforts to acquire this Italian international dominated last summer, and ended in failure, many fans would be forgiven for rolling their eyes when seeing this renewed interest.
After all, putting all their eggs in this basket proved a grave error, and left them going into the 2023/24 season with the bare minimum out wide.
Fortunately, Harrison and Dwight McNeil are a couple of relentless assets who seldom miss matches. Otherwise, a lack of alternatives could’ve proven fatal.
However, with a renewed position of financial strength, and even more money now gained from Amadou Onana’s transfer to Aston Villa, surely this summer will mark the time when the Toffees finally get what they want.
Throughout a tumultuous last season, in which the Whites came as close as possible to play-off promotion back to the Premier League, Gnonto scored eight and assisted a further two from just 19 Championship starts.
It is startling just how much senior football this 20-year-old has already played, and this experience, plus the injection of skill and dynamism he promises, could revolutionise Sean Dyche’s side going into their final season at Goodison Park.
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