Everton’s summer has been one of unparalleled success thus far, having largely identified a target, submitted a bid and negotiated a deal to simple completion.
Seldom before has each acquisition seemed so seamless, and having now welcomed four new faces to Goodison Park, as well as Jack Harrison returning on loan, Sean Dyche must be in dreamland.
His squad is unrecognisable from the one that started the summer and indundated with quality all over the pitch, with only Amadou Onana as the outstanding absentee.
However, things have not been completely perfect, and there has remained one outstanding setback which the Toffees have had to suffer time and time again.
Had they not been so blinded by this one target though, perhaps they might have been able to see a star alternative that was right there beside him.
Everton fail in bid to sign Wilfried Gnonto
The player in question is of course Wilfried Gnonto, who Kevin Thelwell and Dyche have been trying to tempt from Leeds United for over a year now.
Having only moved to England in 2022, his seamless integration as a teenager earned him huge plaudits as well as a call-up to the Italy national side.
He had the world at his feet before relegation struck, and Everton promised him a platform to continue shining in the Premier League.
The 20-year-old clearly wanted it badly, hence his 2023 transfer request, but fast-forward a year on and he remains, content at Elland Road.
That is, despite Everton having bid £23m for Gnonto this very window again, failing in that effort before moving on to sign Jesper Lindstrom from Napoli instead.
Satisfying their need for a winger at last, and thus cooling their interest in the former FC Zurich man, perhaps it might have been better taking that sum, adding a mere £2m to it, and instead signing Crysencio Summerville from Leeds United instead.
Everton should have signed Crysencio Summerville
After all, that is essentially what West Ham United did, snagging the Dutch trickster and the true star of Daniel Farke’s show last season for just £25m.
It’s quite laughable that a player who so blatantly outperformed Gnonto all campaign was ignored by Dyche and his scouting staff, who were seemingly so intent on their long-term target that they could not see the forest for the trees.
Although his opportunities were sparse, the Italian scored eight and assisted twice from 19 Championships starts last term, failing to convince the manager that he deserved a cemented first-team spot.
Summerville, however, grew into their most important player by some distance, and in the end, his tally of 19 goals and nine assists deservedly earned him the Championship Player of the Year award.
One journalist, Beren Cross, even outlined the regularity with which the Whites relied upon his ‘magic’ to bail them out.
Just two years Gnonto’s senior, but clearly boasting far more quality, if Everton had just looked beyond their blinded pursuit of one Leeds United man they might have noted another, for virtually the same price that they were willing to pay, with far more to offer.
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