"Stretching" - Sean Dyche makes Everton transfer admission amid Leeds United talks | OneFootball

Everton have been linked with a move for Leeds United's Wilfried Gnonto this summer

Sean Dyche has admitted that Everton are looking to stretch their transfer budget this summer amid links to Leeds United’s Wilfried Gnonto.

According to Football Insider, the Toffees showed an interest in signing the Italian early in the summer window, with his future up in the air after the Whites failed to gain promotion to the Premier League.

However, Football Insider later claimed that talks between the two clubs had stalled, raising uncertainty over whether a deal can be completed by the end of the month.

Everton will be keen to bolster their squad ahead of the new Premier League campaign, as they look to avoid any kind of relegation fight over the next 12 months.

However, Gnonto has a contract with Leeds until 2027, giving the Yorkshire outfit a strong negotiating position.

Sean Dyche’s Everton transfer admission

Dyche provided an update on Everton’s current transfer situation following the team’s 3-0 loss to Coventry City in a pre-season friendly.

He revealed that the club is stretching its means in order to get deals over the line this summer, with the window set to close later this month.

“We're stretching what we can,” said Dyche, via Everton TV.

“We'll use the finances that we can and building the deals that we can.

“So that's the [situation at this] moment in time.”

Gnonto signed for Leeds in the summer of 2022 from Swiss side FC Zurich in a deal worth a reported £3.8 million.

The youngster made a strong first impression in his debut campaign in the Premier League, as he earned a major breakthrough in his career off the back of his performances.

Gnonto contributed two goals and four assists from 24 appearances in the top flight in 2022/23, but the team finished 19th in the table (all stats from Fbref).

The 20-year-old registered eight goals and two assists in 36 Championship games last season, as Leeds narrowly missed out on promotion.

Leeds United’s 2024 summer sales

Archie Gray was the first big name departure at Elland Road this summer, making the switch to Tottenham Hotspur in a deal worth £40 million.

Glen Kamara has also been sold, joining French side Rennes after just 12 months with the club.

Crysencio Summerville is now set to become the latest big name departure this transfer window following a £25 million agreement with West Ham.

Clubs have until 30 August to finalise any remaining deals before the market shuts for the remainder of the calendar year.

Gnonto deal gains importance with Summerville development

Leeds losing both Gnonto and Summerville in one transfer window would be a huge blow to Daniel Farke’s side.

Now that a deal has been agreed with West Ham for the Dutchman, the importance of Gnonto to the squad will only increase.

This makes it even more crucial that they hold onto him, as this could jeopardise their promotion hopes for the campaign ahead.

While Summerville has kicked on more in the last 12 months, there is no doubting that Gnonto can reach similar heights given the potential that he possesses at just 20-years-of-age.