Sources: Leeds United agree £3m Willy Gnonto saving as new details emerge
Leeds United completed the signing of Willy Gnonto after refusing to pay FC Zurich’s £7million asking price, sources have told Football Insider.
The Swiss side wanted £3m more than Leeds were willing to pay for the Italian forward, 18, before eventually buckling and agreeing a £4m deadline-day deal.
The transfer, which ended with Gnonto signing a five-year contract, includes add-ons such as a sell-on clause that could benefit FC Zurich in the future.
Football Insider first revealed on 21 August that Leeds had agreed personal terms with Gnonto as they laid the groundwork for a late-window deal.
They finally completed the signing in the last hour on deadline day after other potential deals had collapsed.
Gnonto became Leeds’ eighth signing of the summer window after his last-gasp move from Zurich.
The four-cap Italy international has scored once and provided one assist in 12 appearances this term.
His return last season, during which he played as both a secondary striker and conventional centre-forward, was 10 goals and five assists in 36 outings.
Leeds were also close to sealing a deal for Marseille forward Bamba Dieng on deadline day, but the Senegal international ultimately chose to join Nice.
In a late twist, the 22-year-old failed his medical with the French club.
Leeds owner Andrea Radrizzani tweeted that they had been “screwed” by Dieng’s eleventh-hour U-turn.
Jesse Marsch’s side are 7th in the Premier League after five matches ahead of their trip to Brentford on Saturday (3 August).
In other news, Leeds United employee issues Jack Harrison claim after “dream” BBC reveal.