Kicker Report: Freiburg and Hoffenheim back off Gnonto pursuit for now
A report appearing on Kicker claims that both SC Freiburg and TSG 1899 Hoffenheim have dropped their efforts to acquire Italian international Wilfried Gnonto for the time being.
Journalists Jim Decker, Michael Pfeifer, and Fabian Ruch claim that the 18-year-old's club of FC Zürich is simply asking for too much money.
Despite reports emerging yesterday that SC Freiburg were engaged in an active pursuit of young Italian phenom Wilfried Gnonto, it looks to be the case that the Breisgau club has backed off for now. The reason, according to journalists working for Germany's preeminent footballing publication, is the asking price.
Journalists Jim Decker, Michael Pfeifer, and Fabian Ruch claim that the 18-year-old's club of FC Zürich is simply asking for too much money.
FC Zürich apparently wish to capitalize on the buzz surrounding the teenager after he garnered both his first international assist and first international goal against the German national team in the recent Nations League brace. Zürich seeks to utilize the opportunity to demand far more than the player's estimated market value of €10 million.
For Freiburg, a small market club that has only gotten used to flashing such cash relatively recently, the price is simply too high. A deal for St. Pauli's Daniel-Kofi Kyereh would constitute a more economical move. Hence, the journalists note, the Schwarzwaldverein are focusing their administrative efforts on getting that expected transfer over the line.
In the case of Hoffenheim, the Sinsheimers reportedly feel themselves well-stocked with regard to the attack. The Sinsheimers already have Georginio Rutter, Ihlas Bebou, Munus Dabbur, and Andrej Kramaric available to operate at the forward position. If anything, the TSG seek to reduce personnel in that area.
A transfer of Gnonto to either club nevertheless cannot be ruled out. The latest on the Kyereh deal holds that the 26-year-old Ghanian actually wishes to hold off on committing to any particular club whilst more options trickle in. Gnonto could also become an issue in Kraichgau again once the club shores up the more pressing transfer need of more central defenders.