Anthony Onifade

Sun 11 June 2023 9:10, UK

Willy Gnonto is being viewed as a “discount” option to leave Leeds United this summer for former side Inter Milan, but Leeds United must ensure they’re not bullied into a cheap sale.

The 19-year-old sensation swiftly rose to prominence among the Elland Road support since his summer move from FC Zurich, registering two goals and four assists from 23 Premier League games as the Whites suffered relegation.

According to LUFCFANZONE [31 May], Gnonto has no relegation release clause in his contract, unlike Tyler Adams and Brendan Aaronson which means the Whites hold a strong position when it comes to any potential sale.

The Leeds United bosses will “fight” to keep hold of the Italian forward [The Athletic, 1 June] but there is also interest from Serie A giants Juventus, who are “much more eager to get their hands on him” while his former club Inter Milan are also showing an interest in his services.

And according to Inter Live [6 June], the Whites may be forced to accept a “discount” sale of Gnonto to his former club Inter Milan at just €10million [£8.6m].

The 19-year-old has indeed enjoyed a stellar first season in England, contributing four goals and four assists in 23 appearances in all competitions but more crucially possesses amazing trickery, 1v1 dribbling, pace and technical skill to unlock even the best defences in the Premier League.

However, Gnonto just hasn’t been rewarded with the starts his talents so very much deserve during the latter stages of the season with both Javi Gracia and Sam Allardyce not handing him the starts his talents warrant, coming as some source of disbelief to pundits, journalists and Leeds United fans alike.

The interest from elsewhere is inevitable given the wing-wizard’s wonderful brand of technical quality and skills in the final third but his situation in the team right now will only heighten and further the fears that Gnonto may be swayed in departing Elland Road, especially if they are relegated from the Premier League.

However, even if the worst should happen this weekend, Leeds United and the now confirmed respective full owners 49ers Enterprises [Sky Sports, 9 June] must ensure they are not bullied over a quick-fire cheap sale this summer.

And according to Calcio Web reporting on 22 May, an agreement has been reached over Gnonto’s exit this summer, ensuring Leeds should be making a profit from his sale rather than selling him at a discounted price. And that has been backed up further by the Daily Express [24 May].

“Teenage forward Wilfried Gnonto, who fell out of favour under Javi Gracia after glimpses of huge promise under Jesse Marsch, could also be heading for the exit door.

“There is interest in Gnonto from his homeland Italy where the 19-year-old has unfinished business after leaving Inter Milan’s youth academy for Zurich in 2020.

“Despite earning 11 caps for Italy’s national side under Roberto Mancini, Gnonto is yet to feature in Serie A after walking an unconventional pathway to Premier League stardom.

“Having signed Gnonto for just £4m from the Swiss club, Leeds could be set to net a mega profit for the highly-rated attacker, who was one of only a few success stories from Victor Orta’s turbulent reign as sporting director”, the report reads.

Gnonto, despite only being at the club for just under a year, is one of their marquee assets and given his contract still with plenty of years to run, the Whites are well within their own right to demand a hefty pay package for his signature.

If the forward is to leave the club with Premier League clubs interested, Leeds United must ensure they get the best out of the deal in order to fund their own ambitions of an immediate English top-flight return.

There may well be a backlash against the new owners should they fall under the weight of pressure to sell one of their prized assets on the cheap. In today’s inflated market, Leeds United should be thinking of their own benefit.

In other Leeds United news, with the new boss now key one man is emerging as a “serious contender” for the job.