Leeds United have looked to the fee paid by Chelsea

Leeds United have looked to the fee paid by Chelsea for Romeo Lavia this summer, when setting Wilfried Gnonto’s asking price, according to the Athletic.

Phil Hay reported on Tuesday (22 August) that the Whites monitored the situation with the former Southampton midfielder and have used it as a marker of what the 19-year-old winger should be worth this summer.

Lavia left Southampton following their relegation for a fee of £53m, having only joined the Saints 12 months ago and as interest in Gnonto continues to rumble on with no club yet managing to match the valuation.

Discussing the state of a potential sale, Hay wrote: “The largest bid yet was a total package worth £25million. United took note of Romeo Lavia leaving Southampton for Chelsea for an initial £53million, a year after he switched to the south coast from Manchester City.

“While Lavia started more games in the Premier League than Gnonto, he has a total of 29 top-flight appearances to Gnonto’s 25, Gnonto has the added credentials of being a full Italy international.”

While both Lavia and Gnonto have very similar profiles in terms of age and experience in the Premier League, the truth is the two players have very different positions and the former Southampton man was in much greater demand.

Half of the Premier League this summer was looking for a new number six to run their midfield and that allowed Southampton to sell Lavia for what was an inflated fee, as both Liverpool and Chelsea attempted to secure his signature.

At the moment Leeds doesn’t seem to have that same level of interest in Gnonto to be able to drive up his price. On top of that, the 19-year-old’s public desire to move will mean clubs are more reluctant to pay over the odds for a player they know is angling for a transfer.

While that doesn’t mean that Leeds shouldn’t hold out for as big a potential fee as possible this summer, the likelihood of them getting anywhere near the sort of fee Chelsea paid Southampton isn’t very high at all, £30m would seem a sensible price.

After all, Farke won’t reintegrate a player who doesn’t want to be at Elland Road this season and Leeds won’t want to be lumbered with a player who refused to play, should their steep valuation not be met.