Leeds United must offer Wilfried Gnonto a new contract to avoid January chaos
Most Leeds fans are absolutely delighted at the fact the transfer window is closed now as it means nobody else can leave between now and the January window.
But Daniel Farke’s squad is far from complete and there are still big decisions that the club need to make between now and the new year to ensure that the next transfer window isn’t as chaotic as the last.
Leeds lost 13 players during the summer but only two left on permanent deals, with Luis Sinisterra forcing his way out on deadline day after the 11pm deadline passed thanks to a deal sheet.
Several players were able to leave the club despite the club preferring to keep them because of clauses inserted in contracts under the previous regime, and now the club need to find a way to fix that.
That should start with Wilfreid Gnonto, who after refusing to play and being kicked out of the first-team changing room has now settled back into the squad after accepting the club’s decision that he wouldn’t be leaving despite Everton’s interest.
The player was signed for just £5m in the summer of 2022 on deadline day after failed moves for Cody Gakpo and Charles De Ketelaere and despite Jesse Marsch admitting he was one for the future initially, he became undeniable.
Now, you’d be hard pressed to find a Leeds fan who doesn’t him among the team’s best and most influential players and doesn’t want him starting games as often as possible.
With so much interest in the summer in his services, it’s clear that January will see more of the same and these clubs and potentially new ones will return for him depending on his performances between now and then.
But Leeds can protect themselves a little bit more by openings talks for a new contract and giving him the pay-rise his performances have deserved, and closing the gap between what will be on offer from others and at Elland Road.
Farke has made it clear he doesn’t want to see any more exit clauses in contracts at the club and that suits Leeds better too, but if Gnonto wants a pay-rise then a new deal is inevitable. With so much time on his deal remaining, Leeds are under no pressure to sell either.
But in the interests of having happy players, giving him improved terms on a deal to reflect his status in the squad would no doubt go a long way to keeping him at the club for the whole season and potentially even longer whether we get promotion or not.
In other Leeds news, three summer signings are not part of Farke’s strongest XI with decisions needed during the international break.