Leeds United contingency plan for Willy Gnonto exit to Everton ruined as Manchester United ace spotted on crutches
Leeds United look they are going to need to come up with a new contingency plan if they are unable to keep hold of Willy Gnonto this summer, after Amad Diallo was spotted on crutches in the US.
The Mirror had reported on 24 June that the Whites were eyeing up the Manchester United youngster, 21, as a replacement for if Italy international Gnonto, 19, leaves.
Amad spent a successful season on loan at Sunderland last term, scoring 14 goals in the Championship for the Black Cats, but was taken off after sustaining an injury in the 2-0 friendly victory over Arsenal in New Jersey, and it looked fairly serious afterwards.
Manchester Evening News reporter Samuel Luckhurst posted a clip on Twitter of the Ivorian winger on crutches getting onto the back of a golf cart following the friendly on Saturday night (22 July).
Gnonto has been widely noted as a player that Leeds United want to keep for the promotion push under Daniel Farke, but Everton have been pushing to sign him and appear to have made a £15million bid already, which was rejected.
The Express’ Ryan Taylor reported talks “ongoing” after the bid being rebuffed on 16 July, and the Goodison links won’t go away.
With Max Wober, another key man who appeared to be ready to stay, now on the brink of a loan exit to Borussia Monchengladbach [The Athletic, 23 July] the manager will already need to react to unexpected exits.
Gnonto doesn’t have the same loan release clause that the Austrian defender and so many other who have already departed did in his contract.
But he has been named among the eight-strong contingent of players, along with Wober, who are “actively” looking to leave before the window closes [Last Word on Sports, 18 July].
While the first choice scenario at Elland Road is of course to keep the teenager next term, with a new contract even on the cards to help get it done, they are going to need to guard against a late exit that might otherwise leave them shorthanded.
However, even if Amad had been a feasible target it certainly looks like he won’t be now after what appears to be a substantial knock.
With Farke revealing that Jack Harrison is also out with injury, assuming he doesn’t leave himself, until a few weeks into the season [The Athletic, 22 July] that is already one notable attacking option missing.
The Whites do almost have an embarrassment of riches on the wings currently, with Crysencio Summerville and Luis Sinisterra also included.
However, the mooted Wober deal shows the picture can change quickly, and with Gnonto the man most heavily linked with an exit the club are going to need a new replacement if that does happen.
But designs on that being the former Championship stand-out Amad from Old Trafford look to have been scuppered.
In other Leeds United news, Farke would love to sign a Tottenham player this summer he knows he can rely on says Phil Hay.