Tottenham line up move for Everton target as Postecoglou eyes Leeds star in post-Kane boost
Tottenham are weighing up a potential move for Leeds United forward Wilfried Gnonto amid Everton links, according to reports.
Spurs sold Harry Kane to Bayern Munich for €100m (£86m) last week with new boss Ange Postecoglou now attempting to replace the England international’s 30 Premier League goals from last season.
Postecoglou may have to settle for what he’s got with one report explaining that the Kane ‘money has already been invested’ in the team as Tottenham anticipated selling the 30-year-old,
The Athletic brought us news last week that Tottenham may not immediately act to bring in a replacement for Kane this summer with a move for Ivan Toney in January one option they are considering.
The website reported:
‘Not rushing to bring in a first-choice striker now might also open the door to a move for Ivan Toney in January. This is an option being considered for when he returns and is back up to full speed after his gambling ban.
READ MORE: Dyche leaves Everton, Chelsea above Liverpool, Man Utd outside top four and more kneejerk calls
‘They also want to sign another wide player, such as Nottingham Forest’s Brennan Johnson, to improve their depth in the forward positions and provide cover on the wings — especially since without Kane, Son Heung-min will play more games in the centre-forward position.
‘With the additions already of Veliz and defender Micky van de Ven for a deal approaching £43million, sources suggest the Kane money has already been invested.
‘That said, it has only been in the past 10 days that all parties began believing a deal would get done. There was an increased sense at Spurs that it might actually help Postecoglou, as expectations would be lower and there would be an understanding there would have to be a period of post-Kane transition.’
But now London World insists that Tottenham are ‘still in the market for a forward player who can come in and provide pace, assists and goals’ with Leeds forward Gnonto on their radar.
Leeds ‘will only entertain offers in the region of £20million’ for Gnonto – who has also been heavily linked with Everton – after the Italian made himself unavailable for the Yorkshire club’s Carabao Cup tie against Shrewsbury Town last Wednesday.
On a possible move to Tottenham, the report added that personal terms are ‘believed to be a mere formality as he is on a low wage in Yorkshire and will jump at the opportunity to move to London and play for a team that is looking to start from scratch after recent disappointment’.
Leeds released a statement after Gnonto’s refusal to play for the Championship side with the Yorkshire club informing the player he won’t be sold this summer.
A statement read: “Earlier this week, Willy Gnonto and his representatives were informed by the club that he would not be sold this summer.
“Following those conversations, Willy felt he was unable to play in Wednesday night’s Carabao Cup tie with Shrewsbury Town.
“Despite training for the last two days, Willy has informed Daniel Farke that he still does not feel able to play this weekend and has not travelled to Birmingham for the game tomorrow.
“This is now an internal disciplinary matter and the club will make no further comment, other than to reiterate that Willy is not for sale.”
