FC Zurich president Ancillo Canepa is not surprised to see Wilfried Gnonto and Becir Omeragic emerge as transfer targets for Premier League giants Leeds United and West Ham, speaking to BlueWin.
It speaks volumes about Gnonto’s potential that, at the age of just 18, he is already being dubbed by some as the silver bullet, cure-all solution to Italy’s centre-forward problems.
After firing Zurich to the 2022 Swiss Super League title, the tenacious, tigerish teenager has certainly made quite the impression on the international stage. Gnonto became the youngest goalscorer in the history of the Italian national team during an otherwise disastrous 5-2 defeat to Germany in June’s UEFA Nations League meeting at Borussia Park.
Leeds have already come calling, per Nicolo Schira. A return to Inter Milan is also reportedly on the cards for the one-time Nerazzuri starlet.
And Claudio Vigorelli, Gnonto’s agent, admits that his client is not exactly short of offers after exploding onto the scene over in Switzerland. Strikers as mature and complete as Gnonto, at the age of just 18, do not come around often.
Wilfried Gnonto catches Leeds United’s eye
“Willy is very down-to-earth and very intelligent. He’s doing his best in training,” adds Cenapa, FC Zurich’s president.
“Suddenly, clubs from Italy, England, Spain and Germany are interested in you. Of course you think about it.
“The conditions have to be right for us (to sell). It would certainly be good for him if he stayed at FC Zurich for another year to gain more experience.
“He’s mature. There aren’t that many players with his qualities anymore. His pace, his dribbling, his goal threat: It’s clear that he has a huge market (of interested clubs).”
Gnonto is not the only member of Zurich’s title-winning squad with Premier League admirers. According to Tuttomercatoweb, West Ham United opened talks with 20-year-old centre-back Becir Omeragic back in June.
“One player who is on the international watch list is Becir Omeragic,” adds Canepa. “The situation is completely open. If there are offers that are in line with the market, we will think about it. Otherwise we will follow (the situation) coolly and calmly.”
Omeragic will cost around £8 million (Gazzetta dello Sport).
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