Gnonto rumours back as Everton linked with growing number of forwards

Everton have been linked with a growing number of wide attackers over the last few days with the latest story suggesting the Toffees are keen on Hull City's Jaden Philogene.

The twenty-two year old forward's form last season has generated interest from several Premier League clubs and looks a decent option providing both attacking flair and defensive qualities too.

He was a player previously identified by this site as one that Everton should seriously look at as the search for affordable attacking talent continues.

That report on Philogene came just a little while after news had broken the Blues were closing in on Marseille and former Sheffield United forward Iliman Ndiaye, with a deal allegedly nearly done.

Now, according to Football Insider and our old friend Keith Wyness, Everton still retain a strong interest in a player that the club tried very hard to sign last summer.

Wilfried Gnonto was it seemed close to joining the Toffees last year before a proposed deal broke down and he eventually stayed at Elland Road.

Instead, the Blues ended up taking one of his team-mates - Jack Harrison - on loan for the season and Harrison of course has recently been re-signed for another year's loan stint at Goodison Park.

All this transfer activity has been somewhat of a pleasant surprise for Blues supporters after what was expected to be a summer window dominated by outgoings rather than new players coming in.

Alongside that the club's finances came under further scrutiny with still no clarity over the ownership forthcoming when the season concluded and 777 Partners deal collapsed.

While there have been plenty of rumours about Toffees stars Jarrad Branthwaite and Amadou Onana in particular, both are still at least so far, Everton players.

Returning to these ongoing rumours of new signings, Gnonto is a forward with obvious ability and he contributed ten goals and two assists as Leeds battled to come straight back to the Premier League.

That attempt was ultimately unsuccessful and the Yorkshire club failed to win promotion again.

That means that a number of their players will be potentially available this summer, not least because the club have very significant financial problems.

Even so, a valuation of around £30-35 million still seems out of Everton's price range, certainly not until the proposed takeover by The Friedkin Group succeeds.

A deal for someone like Ndaiye, Philogene and even possibly Yankuba Minteh seem much more likely than the Blues going back for Gnonto in a serious way.