Leeds United transfer news: ‘Odd’ 49ers and Daniel Farke verdict issued as Willy Gnonto exit can’t be ruled out
It would be “odd” for the 49ers and Daniel Farke to fight against a Willy Gnonto exit from Leeds United in the summer only to let him leave in January but it can’t be entirely ruled out, suggests Beren Cross.
The Leeds Live journalist wrote for the outlet’s website on 8 November that the Italian international “still has next to no leverage” to force his way out of Elland Road in the winter despite reports emerging that he is looking to go once more.
Gnonto, 19, has nearly two months and 10 games to prove his value to Daniel Farke before January, but if he fails to do so it is “easier to see why a sizeable offer” could see the German discuss an exit, but Cross questions any club offering enough based on the forward’s impact so far this season.
According to Cross there is the possibility of reinvestment in the squad midseason if Gnonto’s agents are capable of sourcing a suitable offer for him.
And as such he wrote: “Interest in Nadiem Amiri showed United’s eye for a natural playmaker and a more traditional number 10 remains an elusive gap in this squad. Selling Gnonto for someone of that ilk could be a possibility, but also a risk.”
Worthwhile sacrifice?
If Gnonto stays committed to Leeds United then he has proven before that he can be an asset on the pitch, and he would absolutely make sense to keep when he is sure to have chances over the course of the campaign.
But he clearly was minded to leave once before so if his relative lack of action since then makes him anxious to leave there might be an argument to accept decent money for him.
There would be no point in letting him go for a cut-price fee however so if the right bid doesn’t come in it is possibly a moot point.
Despite questions still to answer within this squad, such as how to get the best out of Joel Piroe and the drop off in quality from the first XI to the back-up options, this is currently a unit that is functioning well and looks united.
Any midseason exits risks upsetting that, particularly when Gnonto is close to star duo Crysencio Summerville and Georginio Rutter.
So if Farke wants to fund an incoming deal, whether that is a surprising return to Amiri or an alternative, the German will have to carefully assess the potential negative effects on his team as a whole.
Gnonto this season has been nothing of the fan-favourite he was last term, but there is every chance he will be required to reprise that role between now and May if he stays.
In other Leeds United news, Phil Hay has issued a “fascinating” verdict on the possibility that Amiri could yet be Elland Road-bound once more.