Everton has set their sights on two players whom Sam Allardyce felt let him down during Leeds United’s relegation, writes the Everton News. After a disappointing 3-1 loss to West Ham last month, the former Leeds boss criticized Wilfried Gnonto and Crysencio Summerville for their impact off the bench. A victory in that match could have lifted Leeds out of the Premier League’s bottom three, but the duo failed to impress, leaving Leeds two points adrift.
Gnonto replaced Patrick Bamford in the first half, while Summerville came on for Jack Harrison in the 60th minute. Despite their efforts, Leeds couldn’t secure safety on the final day of the season and were relegated to the Championship. However, Gnonto and Summerville might find themselves back in the top flight soon, as Everton is reportedly interested in signing both attackers, according to the Daily Mail.
While the likelihood of both players leaving Elland Road this summer is increasing, Everton faces competition from top clubs across Europe for their signatures. It is unlikely that Everton would acquire both players, with reports suggesting that Gnonto could be available for around £12 million, and sources from 1908.nl claiming that Summerville might even be available for less.
Both players have contributed a similar number of goals and possess experience, but the Italian teenager, Gnonto, has particularly stood out. Being two years younger than his teammate, he also appears to have greater potential, with links to clubs like Juventus and Inter Milan. While Gnonto presents a more exciting prospect for Everton, luring him to Merseyside may prove to be a more challenging task.
“The impact of the substitutes wasn’t what I expected, none of them made a difference when we needed them,” Allardyce said.
“The challenge is to try to beat Tottenham and deliver a performance. We’ll give ourselves a chance if we win and then see what happens. Our only hope is to win that game.”