Wilfried Gnonto exit decision to come clear vs Birmingham as Daniel Farke faces unwanted Leeds dilemma
Daniel Farke may have to let go of Wilfried Gnonto in the summer, even if he doesn’t necessarily want to.
Leeds United face Birmingham in FA Cup action this Sunday, and Farke is expected to make several changes to his starting 11.
Joel Piroe is almost nailed on to start, while the likes of Lucas Perri and Ao Tanaka could also be afforded rare starts for the Whites.
However, Farke has a series of decisions to make over the players who combine with Piroe in attack, with Gnonto among the options.
And while the Italian seems likely to be handed a start this time out, it could force a dilemma at Leeds United heading into the summer window.
Does Wilfried Gnonto fit the current Leeds system?
Gnonto has immense quality, and everyone knows that.
However, Farke’s decision to move to a back five formation has seen the Whites largely play without wingers, which is where Gnonto usually features.
There’s a case to be made that he could complement another striker in a two-up top tactic, or even play behind them in a 10 role, but Farke has also opted against that this season.
In fact, Gnonto has played just nine minutes for Leeds since 26 January, and that was as a very late substitute in a 4-0 defeat to Arsenal.
Added to that, he has started just one of their last 14 games in all competitions.
Gnonto, given his age and quality, has plenty of value to his name, and if he fails to impress against Birmingham, it’s hard to see him playing much again this season.
And if that were to be the case, a permanent exit could occur in the summer.
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Can Leeds afford to keep Gnonto in the summer?
That largely comes down to what happens between now and then.
Leeds need to achieve survival in the Premier League first, and if they do, then there’s a strong case to be made that Gnonto will leave.
If the current system keeps bringing the success required at Elland Road, then Farke will have no reason to change it next season, but that will also mean very little involvement for Gnonto.
That would then raise the question as to whether the Whites would want to keep a player who will still hold an immense amount of value just to utilise him as an impact player.
But it’s also important to look at it from Gnonto’s perspective. Would he want to stay if that were the case? It seems unlikely.
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