Willy Gnonto transfer prediction made at Leeds United amid Italian interest
Wilfried Gnonto has been predicted to remain at Leeds United this summer by journalist Graeme Bailey.
Leeds’ failure to secure promotion to the Premier League has left the club needing to sell players in order to balance the books.
However, Bailey does not expect Gnonto to be among the stars who leave Elland Road this summer.
Speaking to Leeds United News (5 June), he said: “[Gnonto] had talks over a new deal that went unsigned. It wouldn’t massively surprise me if he signed a new deal. They can’t let everyone go. If [Crysencio] Summerville was to go, is Gnonto the ideal replacement to come in? Arguably yes.
“With Gnonto, it depends who else goes. The season he has had, if you couldn’t sell him last summer, I don’t think clubs will be queuing up this summer. For him career wise, he is better off staying at Leeds and signing a new deal.
“That’s the way I see it playing out, unless one of those suitors in Italy really like him, but I don’t see Leeds taking a massively reduced fee for him. It will be hard for anyone to get him out, as proved last summer.”
Can Leeds United hang on to Wilfried Gnonto?
At the age of 20, Gnonto profiles as one of Leeds’ more saleable assets.
The young forward spent a significant chunk of the season as an impact substitute, however, playing 2,190 minutes across all competitions – 12 players managed more.
His haul of nine goals and three assists in all competitions is strong given his limited minutes, though there is little doubt that Crysencio Summerville and Georginio Rutter were the main men in the Whites’ attack.
However, Summerville has attracted far more attention than Gnonto and appears the likelier of the two to leave.
Should the Championship’s Player of the Season depart, it would perhaps create room for Gnonto to take up a more prominent role within the squad as Daniel Farke looks to steer Leeds back to the Premier League at the second time of asking.
Gnonto spent the majority of the campaign on the right wing, with Summerville favoured on the left – but as a fellow right-footed wide forward, the Italy international could benefit from a switch to the opposite flank.
In other Leeds United news, the Whites could lose Junior Firpo and another player for the start of the new season.
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