Daniel Farke faces crucial days ahead to convince Wilfried Gnonto of Leeds United project as transfer news emerge
Willy Gnonto is reportedly considering staying at Leeds United depending as he is unsure about a move to Everton and Daniel Farke faces pivotal days ahead to convince him of his Elland Road project.
talkSPORT reported (27 July) that the former FC Zurich forward is considering remaining at Elland Road depending on what offers he receives and is reluctant of a move to Goodison Park.
The Italy international, 19, has been linked with an exit throughout the summer but crucially doesn’t have a relegation release clause in his contract which has handed the Whites more control over his future after rejecting a £15m bid from Everton for his services.
Journalist Alex Crook’s writing on his Transfer Notebook for talkSPORT (27 July): “Everton target Willy Gnonto could be about to hand Leeds’ hopes of returning to the Premier League an unexpected boost.
“As this column has previously reported, Gnonto is high on Everton boss Sean Dyche’s list of summer targets.
“However, talkSPORT understands Gnonto, 19, and his advisers are not completely sold on the idea of a move to Goodison Park, and that the Italian could consider staying at Elland Road depending on what other offers he receives.
Italian journalist Ignazio Genuardi reported on 27 July that the Whites had closed the door on Gnonto leaving this summer, but should a big money offer arrive, that stance may certainly change.
However, the decision certainly rests with the fleet-footed forward, though and it’s now been made abundantly clear that he and his agent isn’t sold on joining Sean Dyche’s revolution at Goodison Park which certainly hands new Leeds boss Farke the opportunity to sway Gnonto’s decision and continue his development in the Championship.
With Aston Villa also interested in the forward, Emery’s project may well force Gnonto to consider a move but the West Midlands outfit haven’t submitted a firm offer yet which means the cards remain in Farke’s court at this moment in time.
If the German boss and the 49ers want to align themselves with the fan base then keeping their best players at the club in order to fulfil their ambitions of a return back to the Premier League is the clear way forward.
Leeds have already lost a number of key players in the likes of Rodrigo, Brenden Aaronson, Rasmus Kristensen, Robin Koch and Diego Llorente, and there may well be more leaving but Gnonto, who emerged as a crucial attacking component for much of last campaign could prove the most damaging of the lot, considering his burgeoning potential.
A return to the Premier League was always going to be on the cards for Gnonto, but there is still some room for Farke to convince Gnonto of his exciting new project at Elland Road, what kind of players could he be lining up with to fulfil their English top-flight ambitions and most of all, what kind of role will the former Inter youngster play in the German’s project.
The player has shown no “burning desire” to leave Elland Road at this point either, and it seems like the perfect fit for everyone that he stays put and gets more regular football to cement himself as one of the main men at Leeds.
No matter who Leeds United manage to sign to bolster their ranks ahead of the new campaign, no new addition will be as important and as decisive as the 19-year-old and there may be no better platform and opportunity for Gnonto to hone his craft and enhance his development with some guaranteed game time in the Championship.
Sometimes young players have to take a step down to take a giant step forward in their careers and that’s the decision Gnonto must make in the coming days. It’s up to Farke to convince him of that fact.
In other Leeds United news, a returning loan star reveals his Elland Road “dream” after being tipped for Championship game time.