George Overhill

Thu 2 November 2023 20:10, UK

Leeds United may be set to face up to a Willy Gnonto exit in the winter transfer window but need to be very wary about the possible knock-on effect it might have on his star teammate.

Crysencio Summerville has been in outstanding form recently, with five goals and three assists in his last five Championship matches, and is known to be a close friend to his Italian teammate.

With Calcio Mercato reporting on 2 November that Lazio have opened talks with Gnonto’s agents, after the teenager apparently instructed them to find him an exit route, a departure looks like it may be on the cards for January.

The breakout star of last season has faded into the background under Daniel Farke via a combination of injury and disruption caused by his own hold out earlier in the campaign, as he attempted to force a move to Everton in the summer window.

Therefore the Whites could arguably afford to take a sizeable fee – they are reportedly demanding the same £25million that they refused from the Toffees earlier this year – and cash in on Gnonto, 19.

However, it had been suggested by the Yorkshire Evening Post’s Graham Smyth during the summer, when every saleable talent in the squad’s future was uncertain, that an exit for one of the two young wide men might tip the other into wanting out.

The chaotic offseason saw Gnonto and his agents do everything they could to leave for a period of time but Leeds United refused point blank to accommodate the idea.

In the circumstances Summerville remained content to stay at Elland Road, despite offers, and the exciting pair were both still in West Yorkshire come 2 September.

While the Italian international has taken a back seat since the Dutchman, 22, has emerged as a virtually unstoppable force in recent weeks, so it would be a major turnaround for his commitment to wain to the point of wishing to actually follow his friend and teammate out of the club.

But Daniel Farke will surely be loath to do anything that might upset the equilibrium that Summerville has found himself in, given how many points it could be worth in the promotion push if he stays on his current run of form.

The drop in quality from the regular starters to the back-up options is currently significant, as the loss at Stoke and the second half against Huddersfield demonstrated after the manager gave opportunities to the likes of Gnonto and Jaidon Anthony.

Dan James may also be flying but Leeds United simply wouldn’t have won at Norwich without Summerville and the thrashing of the Terriers last weekend would have been very different without his two goals and two assists.

Clearly the club can’t base every decision around keeping one winger happy, but there is certainly merit to keeping Gnonto around if they don’t need the money, over and above his own potential contributions down the line.

It may be that a second window of battling with the Italian is all the messier since he isn’t playing much, and perhaps Summerville is comfortable enough at the club under Farke to thrive either way, but the hierarchy simply can’t make any rash decisions in the New Year that will throw this rapidly improving side off course.

In other Leeds United news, Phil Hay reports that the 49ers are still set to bring in more new high-level arrivals.