Southampton respond to Everton’s £12m bid for Che Adams as Willy Gnonto update emerges

The Toffees’ bid wasn’t big enough to be accepted by the Saints, with Sean Dyche’s side targeting two EFL players.

The Scotland international is wanted by a number of sides this summer – but it’s the Toffees that have made the first

significant move to try and get a deal over the line.

They will be encouraged by the fact the Saints have been willing to offload some of their key players this summer,

with Tino Livramento, James Ward-Prowse and Romeo Lavia all sealing returns to the Premier League.

The south-coast side are managed by Russell Martin who has been used to his sides selling key men from his time at

both St Mary’s and Swansea City.

But this summer, the Saints haven’t been willing to let players go unless their valuation has been met and the Toffees

will need to cough up a bigger fee if they want to lure Adams to Goodson Park before the summer transfer window

closes.

With Sean Dyche’s side keen to add more attacking firepower to their squad, they are preparing a fresh bid for Leeds

United youngster Willy Gnonto, according to this same update from talk Sport.

The 19-year-old has submitted a formal transfer request as he looks to seal an exit from Elland Road – but the

Whites are insistent that he isn’t for sale at this point – even though the Italy international is currently training alone.

Already having bids for the teenager rejected, it seems as though the Merseyside outfit aren’t willing to give up on

their pursuit just yet and may be hoping that the player’s desperation to leave could weaken the Whites’ resolve.

Considering Adams plays centrally and Gnonto often operates on the wing, it wouldn’t be a shock to see both come in

before the window closes.

Even if the Toffees don’t come in with another bid for the player, there are other sides that may decide to make an

approach.

AFC Bournemouth, Crystal Palace and Wolverhampton Wanderers have all been linked with Adams – and all three

could be attractive moves for him considering the trio would give him the chance to play in the top tier again.

With the 27-year-old playing both on the south coast and the Midlands during his career, Bournemouth and Wolves

could have a good chance of recruiting him if they wished to.

Considering the player only has one year left on his deal, you could have understood it if the Saints had decided to

cash in.

Martin’s side may have already sold a decent number of key players this summer – but they won’t want to lose Adams

for free and this is why they can’t afford to push the Toffees too far because there’s a chance they will put out of this

race despite the fact they remain interested.

If they can strike a contract agreement with the forward in the next week or two though, they should be looking to

retain him beyond the end of the summer window, with the player scoring twice in two league appearances.

You would back him to get himself on the scoresheet again today with Martin’s side going up against Plymouth

Argyle in today’s early kick-off.

And his goal scoring ability is a key reason why the Saints should be looking to get him tied down to fresh terms

rather than sell him.