Sean Dyche expected to make second bid for £25m ‘rocket’ who really wants to join Everton

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Everton’s summer business has been largely cut and dry thus far, with their ability to identify targets and swiftly run through business impressive.

It marks an alarming shift from the drawn-out processes that fans have become used to, but has therefore made it all the more painful when the Toffees are now dragged into unnecessary lengthy sagas.

Jaden Philogene was the first player that they were forced to truly battle for, yet in the end Aston Villa won that race, and without a true out-and-out winger, the search goes on.

Frustratingly, their backup plan now seems set to turn into another protracted event, in which the selling club are this time holding firm rather than the player.

Such stubbornness, which is wholly justified from the side that holds all the cards, could scupper yet another deal for Everton and thus put a dampener on an otherwise stunning summer thus far.

Everton to submit second bid for Wilfried Gnonto

The latest on Everton’s pursuit of Wilfried Gnonto comes via TEAMtalk, who actually suggest that, contrary to alternative reports, they remain on the trail of the Italy international.

It had been suggested that, having seen a £23m bid knocked back earlier in the window, Kevin Thelwell would finally move away from this transfer effort given their free-spending nature earlier in the summer.

However, this argues otherwise, suggesting that there is just a £2m differential between what Everton are willing to pay and what Leeds United are demanding.

It reads: ‘Everton remain very interested in Leeds United winger Wilfried Gnonto despite seeing a bid turned down for him earlier this window, TEAMtalk can reveal.

‘The Toffees were heavily linked with the Italian international last summer but they were unable to secure a deal despite the player handing in a transfer request.

‘The Toffees’ sporting director Kevin Thelwell is still ‘very keen’ on signing Gnonto this summer as he looks to bring in a new left-winger.

‘It’s going to be an interesting end to the window for Everton and TEAMtalk can confirm that their hopes of Gnonto aren’t fully extinguished just yet.

‘We expect the Toffees to make another bid for the Leeds star in the next couple of weeks. Leeds are holding out for £25m.’

Does Wilfried Gnonto want to join Everton?

It really feels like that, were it not for Gnonto’s interest in joining Everton, the club would have moved on by now.

After all, the Whites have made it as awkward as possible for Sean Dyche to get what he wants, altering their valuation constantly and standing firm even in the face of a transfer request from the 20-year-old last summer.

The ‘pocket rocket‘, as he was dubbed by pundit Danny Mills in 2023, will likely be more than happy to stay, with his role expected to increase hugely following the departure of Crysencio Summerville, but the allure of the Premier League remains a big draw.

In fact, there is one line within that aforementioned report that is worth noting, which highlights Gnonto’s thoughts on the potential move: ‘We understand that Gnonto is still open to joining Everton but won’t publicly try and force an exit as he did last summer as he doesn’t want to damage his relationship with Leeds again.’

Fabrizio Romano has previously reaffirmed such interest on the player’s side, and this could keep Everton in the race for a little while longer.