On Monday night, Leeds United’s lineup is going to have some changes to the one that finished top of the Championship, and there are some intriguing narratives between themselves and Everton worth delving into.
Daniel Farke’s and Leeds’ return to the top flight promises to be a stern test in the form of David Moyes’ Everton, a side heading into a new era at the Hill Dickinson Stadium with a handful of signings that suggest they have their eyes on the top half rather than over their shoulder.
The last time Leeds were in the top flight, Sean Dyche was in charge at Goodison Park and the two clubs were embroiled in a relegation scrap that the Toffees came out on top of, and looked to rub salt in the wounds in the following summer window.
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Everton tried and failed to sign Willy Gnonto from Leeds United in summer of 2023
It was perhaps one of the biggest talking points of United’s first summer under the 49ers’ new ownership as Willy Gnonto became the subject of intense speculation and strong interest from Everton.
The Toffees lodged a £25million bid and were turned down in their advances, only for the Italian to kick up a fuss and refuse to play when Leeds were getting their promotion bid underway.
(Action Images/Jason Cairnduff)
Gnonto withdrew himself from the squad for a handful of games in August before apologising, returning with a goal against Ipswich Town and then working to restore his relationship with the club and fanbase, later becoming an integral figure and a favourite once again.
Just after the 2024 summer transfer window closed, Gnonto penned a fresh contract extension to keep him at the club until 2028, with the Everton transfer saga wrapped up in poetic fashion as the youngster posted on Instagram, reacting to lifting the Championship title and referencing his refusal to play.
“I not wanna play in the Championship,” he wrote, citing a banner of him depicted as a crying baby back in August 2023, the last picture of his post.
Everton did get their wishes on another target from Leeds, though, landing Jack Harrison on a season-long loan that they would then extend for another year as United missed out on promotion.
Leeds United trio could come back to haunt Everton as Monday Night clash nears
Many Everton fans justifiably would have expected Gnonto to join that summer alongside Harrison, but as it transpired, he stayed put and now Leeds’ return to the Premier League could see the Italian international come back to haunt them.
Gnonto looks a guaranteed starter for Leeds on Monday evening, and will have a point to prove in the process as one of the Whites’ star attackers, while the same can be said of Harrison having a point to prove, but for contrasting reasons – needing to show that he’s still got something to offer at Elland Road after a toxic reception in Dublin and two abysmal years on Merseyside.
Every fan dreams up the worst case scenario for their club when coming into these situations, and many online are worried that Gnonto and Harrison could show them a thing or two, but a new arrival in West Yorkshire could make matters worse for the travelling Toffees – free transfer Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
Leeds United agreed to sign Dominic Calvert-Lewin on a free transfer following his exit from Everton in late June. (Action Images via Reuters/Jason Cairnduff)
There’s an alternate scenario where Harrison, Gnonto and Calvert-Lewin all line up in the same Everton side if transfers go to plan, but now they will be turning out at LS11 and the worry for the visitors is that in Bullseye-style, give them a look at what they could have won.
Of course, the likelihood of Harrison, Gnonto and Calvert-Lewin all taking to the pitch against Everton is unlikely, given that only Gnonto looks a likely feature in the starting lineup, while the striker surely won’t be fit enough to feature yet after no pre-season.
Let me know your thoughts in the comments below!