‘Tremendous’ player looks more likely than ever to still be wearing a Leeds shirt after deadline

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Plenty of Leeds United players have been linked with the exit door after defeat to Southampton in the play-off final, but one of the most in-demand players now looks set to stay.

Six have been sold by The 49ers in the form of Archie Gray, Glen Kamara, Marc Roca, Charlie Cresswell, Diego Llorente and Kris Klaesson. Another five have left on loan, including Rasmus Kristensen and others.

But plenty of players that had been expected to go, have remained. Crysencio Summerville continues to be linked with the exit door as many Premier League clubs eye a move, West Ham recently opening talks.

Others like Ilia Gruev, Georginio Rutter, Illan Meslier and even Junior Firpo have attracted interest. One other player said to have Premier League admirers is of course Wilfried Gnonto, with Everton very keen.

• READ MORE: Illan Meslier says he never even considered leaving Leeds

Last summer, Everton pushed to sign Leeds’ Wilfried Gnonto

It saw the 20-year-old attacker refuse to play for Leeds as Everton made numerous bids for the Italy star. He refused to play in games against Birmingham City, West Brom and Shrewsbury in the Carabao Cup.

In response, Leeds rejected any exit. This summer, it is different and The 49ers will sell if the price is right. Everton had been confident of a £22m deal for Gnonto, and talks were said to be progressing over a deal.

However, The Athletic say a move for Gnonto seems unlikely. It comes after the signings of Iliman Ndiaye and Jesper Lindstrom, as well as Jack Harrison on loan, that Everton move for the “tremendous” Gnonto.

If Gnonto wants to leave Leeds, it won’t be Everton to sign him

Indeed, if Everton are to re-enter the transfer market having bought Ndiaye and Lindstrom of late, it won’t be to sign Gnonto. The report says that priorities for Everton currently lie elsewhere this summer.

There is other interest in Gnonto, with former side Inter Milan touted with a possible move in order to boost their homegrown quota as Simone Inzaghi prepares his side for a Champions League campaign.

But the chances of Inter moving for Gnonto, or indeed Gnonto moving back to Inter where game time would be limited, seems unlikely. It might be an unknown club that sign Gnonto at this stage.