'Most likely' Rasmus Kristensen outcome as Everton 'explore' alternatives to £25m Leeds United star

The 2024/25 Championship season kicks off in less than four weeks and Leeds United’s pre-season preparations are well underway. Summer friendly action started on Tuesday, with the under-21s and under-18s facing their counterparts at Rangers while a more senior group beat Lincoln City 3-0 in a behind-closed-doors fixture. Next up is a trip to League Two Harrogate Town on Friday evening before Daniel Farke and his players head to Germany.

There is still plenty of work to be done both on and off the pitch as Leeds plan for another Championship promotion push, with transfer business intensifying as the new season closes in. Those in charge at Elland Road remain hopeful that key players such as Crysencio Summerville and Wilfried Gnonto could stay, while potential reinforcements are being monitored. With all that in mind, the YEP has rounded up some of the latest stories surrounding the club.

Kristensen latest

Reports linking Rasmus Kristensen with a move to Eintracht Frankfurt are continuing to surface with suggestions the right-back will leave Leeds on loan again. Sky Sports Germany reporter Florian Plettenberg claims a second temporary exit from Elland Road is the ‘most likely scenario’ as both clubs continue to discuss a possible move.

Kristensen is due back at Leeds in the next few days, having been away with Denmark at Euro 2024, and talks have been pencilled in with a decision set to be made on the defender’s future. But a move to Frankfurt is looking increasingly likely, with the Bundesliga club now thought to be close to reaching a ‘verbal agreement’ with Leeds.

Plettenberg reported late on Tuesday that discussions were over a permanent deal or loan move with an option or obligation to buy, with Leeds’ £12.6m price-tag an issue for the prospective buyers. And it now seems a temporary move is the most likely outcome, although it is not clear whether a permanent clause will be included as of yet.

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Gnonto alternatives

Wilfried Gnonto remains of interest to Everton but the Leeds star is thought to be on a shortlist of potential wide options, rather than being a sole target. The Liverpool Echo reports that Toffees director of football Kevin Thelwell has Gnonto on his radar but is also ‘assessing other options’ and there is yet to be a ‘sustained attempt’ to lure him away from Elland Road.

Everton hold a long-standing interest in Gnonto, having seen a number of bids for the Italian knocked back late last summer, and manager Sean Dyche has made wide reinforcements a priority for the summer. The Merseyside club are currently focused on outgoings but expect that to change once the £50m sale of Amadou Onana to Aston Villa is wrapped up.

The Toffees were beaten to both Yankuba Minteh and Jaden Philogene, leaving them in need of further wide arrivals and back in the mix for Gnonto, but it seems the 20-year-old is among several potential options. Leeds’ stance on the winger remains the same, with the club not actively looking to sell and only open to business if it is on their terms.