FC Zurich president Ancillo Canepa insists that Premier League outfit Leeds United could eventually pay in excess of £10 million for Italy international Wilfried Gnonto, speaking to Swiss publication Blick.
At the start of the window, Zurich reportedly wanted just shy of £20 million for an 18-year-old forward who became the youngest goalscorer in the history of the Italian national team when he found the net in a UEFA Nations League clash with Germany.
So how on earth did Leeds manage to agree a fee of just £4 million with Zurich on deadline day?
Well, it’s simple really. With a truckload of bonuses and a side dish of sell-on clauses.
Leeds United sign Italy wonderkid Wilfried Gnonto
“These people are clueless,” Canepa bristles, responding to those who criticised Zurich’s decision to let their most exciting young talent go for a fraction of his initial market value.
“(They) don’t know the contract details. The transfer took place under the conditions we had imagined. We negotiated well and didn’t let ourselves be disturbed; even if the transfer was only registered five minutes before the end of the window.”
“Everything in the contract remains confidential. But yes, there is a very good chance that the transfer fee will eventually exceed ten million.”
Zurich also have a sell-on clause in Gnonto’s contract. As such, they will be due a considerable windfall should the teenager ‘do a Raphinha’; develop at a rate of knots at Elland Road before joining one of Europe’s bonafide superclubs for an eye-watering fee.
For now, however, the focus will be on finding Gnonto a place in this Leeds side. Jesse Marsch, when confirming his interest in the one-time Inter Milan starlet in August, suggested that the 18-year-old is not yet Premier League ready.
Gnonto, then, may hope to follow in the footsteps of Crysencio Summerville and Sam Greenwood. Essentially, by playing reserve team football with the aim of forcing his way into the first-team picture.
“We know him,” Marsch explains. “I think we think very highly of him. He’s a young, talented player. With him, it’d be more of a long term project.”
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