Napoli are “interested” in selling Jesper Lindstrøm as Everton explore a deal for the winger, according to The Mirror.
An update on the paper’s website on 15 July (5.31pm) indicated that the Serie A side are in favour of offloading the 16-cap Danish international while the Toffees are also looking at a deal for Leeds United’s Willy Gnonto.
Fabrizio Romano reported talks had been opened for the former via X on 13 July, where he said Napoli would be open to a deal if a strong proposal for Everton’s “next top target” was made but the latest update suggests they may be more keen to do a deal.
Gnonto, 20, was subject of repeated unsuccessful attempts from Goodison Park to sign him a year ago and the interest has now been renewed.
Willy Gnonto wanted at Everton for second year running
Sean Dyche went through last season with just three senior wingers in his squad as Gnonto’s Elland Road teammate Jack Harrison and former Tottenham man Arnaut Danjuma joined Dwight McNeil.
Harrison is back on a second loan deal while permanent signing Iliman Ndiaye can operate out wide, but youngster Lewis Dobbin has been sold to Aston Villa where Amadou Onana is heading in a big-money move.
Clearly the manager wants to add another wide man and the cash from the Belgian midfielder’s exit could potentially fund the capture of both targets.
Lindstrøm’s move to Naples a year ago proved disastrous as the reigning Serie A champions’ title defence was a nightmare all round so Everton may be able to capitalise on his value dropping from the €30million [£25.2m] it cost for them to buy the then-Eintracht Frankfurt star.
Gnonto is another whose circumstances could work in the Toffees’ favour as Leeds’ failure to gain promotion back to the Premier League and the onerous level of future payments on past transfers their previous regime left [Sky Sports, 29 May] means major sales were always expected this summer.
Daniel Farke may have already lost teen star Archie Gray to Tottenham but the Elland Road hierarchy may be more open to cashing in on their Italian winger now than a year ago when they were determined not to lose him.
