By Sam Stone

24th Mar, 2023 | 2:10pm

Willy Gnonto hints at Leeds United future amid fresh transfer speculation at Elland Road

Willy Gnonto has said he is “happy” playing his football in England as fresh speculation over his Leeds United future emerges.

90min reported (22 March) that Napoli and Juventus were interested in bringing the diminutive attacker back to Italy at the end of the season.

However, talking after England’s 2-1 win over the Azzurri in Naples (23 March), the 19-year-old has hinted that he is happy playing his football at Elland Road.

“I made this type of choice, I’m happy and I’ve shown that I’m a good player and I think I’ll do even better,” said Gnonto (Tuttomercatoweb, 23 March).

All on survival 

It’s quite clear Gnonto’s future depends largely on Leeds’ league status come the start of the 2023/34 season. It doesn’t take an expert to realise the Italian international won’t be operating in the Championship. 

Victor Orta does get a lot of criticism, but the signing of Gnonto has proven to be one of his best acquisitions. The 19-year-old’s value has already skyrocketed after an extremely impressive first season at Elland Road. Even if the Whites are a Premier League team next season, there’s a strong chance Leeds will have to fight off interest in the attacker. 

Gnonto is destined to be playing at the highest level and if the Whites can maintain their league status, they stand a good chance of recouping their valuation. It would be a crying shame if the Italy international left Elland Road on the cheap due to Leeds being relegated.

A move back to Italy would seem like the most obvious transfer, but surely he could aim higher than that? A switch to one of the Premier League’s biggest clubs would make a lot of sense.

In other Leeds United news, one player’s exit could depend on Javi Gracia remaining the man in the dugout at Elland Road.

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