Credit: Imago

Josh Edwards

Tue 17 March 2026 16:10, UK

Wilfried Gnonto has the quality to get Leeds United over the finish line this season.

For one reason or another, Daniel Farke has opted against giving Gnonto the gametime he deserves at Leeds United; not just in the Premier League, but even in the Championship.

The Italian started only 26 of the 43 league encounters he featured in for the Whites last season, and still managed to end the campaign with 15 goal contributions.

With three goal involvements in 20 appearances across all competitions this season, he may not have had the desired impact in the limited gametime he has had.

However, his stats showcase why he has what it takes to have a positive influence in Leeds’ battle against relegation.

What would Wilfried Gnonto bring to Leeds?

Despite goals having dried up recently, Gnonto has still started just four times in the Premier League for Leeds, with a total of 380 minutes played.

So for him to have registered just one assist in that time is fairly understandable.

However, there are other aspects of his game within that period that showcase what he brings to the table, especially from a creative aspect.

Gnonto averages 1.42 chances created per 90 this season in the top flight, which is more than Brenden Aaronson, who has started 19 more times than him.

The USMNT international averages just 1.17 per 90, which is signficantly lower.

On top of that, Gnonto averages 28 passes per 90, which is again much higher than Aaronson’s 19.79, which actually places him in the bottom 24 per cent of midfielders in the Premier League.

It’s clear that Gnonto has more to offer than Aaronson from a quality perspective, and now is the perfect time for Farke to realise that.

What does Daniel Farke see in Brenden Aaronson?

Aaronson has been a regular for Farke at Leeds over the last two seasons, and it’s never made much sense.

The 25-year-old had a purple patch earlier in the campaign, which saw him register five goal involvements in seven games, but in the 11 games since then, he has failed to register one.

His lack of influence in the final third has recently been telling, and made his constant inclusion quite baffling.

Leeds need game-changers if they are to avoid the drop, and Gnonto is best-suited to be that player.