Wilfried Gnonto may have already played his last game for Leeds United after worrying injury development emerges
Wilfried Gnonto is set for a lengthy spell on the sidelines for Leeds United after suffering an ankle ligament injury and he looks to have played his last game at the club with a January transfer on the cards.
The Italian winger limped off after 21 minutes in the 0-0 midweek draw against Hull at the MKM stadium with an ankle problem, which has now been diagnosed as damage to his lateral ankle ligaments.
Farke confirmed in his pre-match press conference on Friday 22 September that it is “bad news” and he won’t play against Watford as they await a final assessment on his long he will be out of action.
“It’s bad news as he has done the lateral ankle ligaments,” he said. “We await the assessment this afternoon to see how long he will be out, but he definitely will not be available for tomorrow.”
Speaking on The Square Ball podcast on Friday (22 September), the Athletic journalist Phil Hay said the Italian international “didn’t look great” when he was testing out his ankle on the side of the pitch.
The forward tried to battle through the pain and continue, but it never really looked like he was going to be able to play on and he was eventually substituted.
Considering the lengthy spell on the sidelines that some players face when suffering from a similar injury problem, it may be the last that the Elland Road faithful could see of the Italian wonder who has already been linked with an exit in January.
Italian news outlet Napoli Calcio Live reported on 14 September that the 19-year-old talent wants to leave Elland Road to play in a “major” European league in January with a number of clubs in Serie A keen on signing him.
It is understood that Fiorentina and Sassuolo are two of the clubs who are in pursuit of Gnonto, who handed in a transfer request in the summer in order to force through a move to Everton but the Whites and Daniel Farke made their position on his future clear.
The Italian’s wish to seal a Premier League return is certainly not going away any time soon, and it is totally understandable seeing as Gnonto can certainly be deemed a step above Championship level.
With Farke reintegrating him into his squad before the transfer deadline, it was suggested that all was forgiven and Gnonto would be silly to break that trust again after being given a second chance.
And the Italian has certainly made the most of that second chance with some encouraging displays for the club over the past couple of weeks but this worrying injury development has certainly put a dampener on that progress and the fact that he may be facing a lengthy spell out means his Elland Road fate could already be sealed.
Not good news for the Leeds United faithful or Farke.
In other Leeds news, ‘Forced’ changes for Farke ahead of clash v Watford expected.