Journalist Ben Jacobs claims that Leeds United, following uncertainty over Willy Gnonto’s future all summer, will not permit the teenager to go in January.
The 19-year-old attracted a lot of attention during the most recent transfer window, with Premier League team Everton apparently having the best chance of acquiring his services. The Italian international apparently went on strike to force a transfer since Leeds were anxious to keep him, but he eventually gave in and was reintegrated back into the playing squad.
The Yorkshire giants are looking to bounce back following their relegation from the top tier last season and saw a number of top stars depart during the summer, including Tyler Adams on a permanent deal to Bournemouth, with Luis Sinisterra joining the same team on loan and Jack Harrison heading to Everton – also on a temporary basis.
Gnonto was a player in which Leeds dug their heels in and reaped the rewards when he scored his first goal of the season in the 4-3 win over Ipswich Town in August. It was a result which proved to be a catalyst, with the Whites undefeated in their last five league games, whilst keeping four successive clean sheets.
It’s no coincidence that their upturn in form has coincided with the end of the transfer window. Daniel Farke has now been able to move forward in the knowledge that his squad are not facing distractions from interested clubs and Ben Jacobs believes that will continue into January. Addressing the Gnonto scenario in particular, the journalist told GIVEMESPORT that the attacker is now likely to remain at Elland Road until at least the end of the season;
“What we’ll have to do is wait and see whether, at the end of the season, there’s a change in Leeds’ position. And that will obviously be circumstantial, so it’s far too early to say because next summer, if Leeds are back in the Premier League, then Wilfried Gnonto may just want to stay.
“The other thing in all of this is obviously whether, at any point going forwards, improved terms that are offered to Gnonto. Sometimes when a player stays at a club, but was about to leave, or wanted to leave anyway, you sort of almost get a peacemaker contract offered. We saw it with Moises Caicedo, even though he eventually left, and that contract really doesn’t mean much.
“Because from the players side, they would obviously try and put a clause in there that still allows them to leave in some capacity. For example, if Leeds didn’t get back up to the Premier League, but if everything goes according to plan, that kind of thing can obviously keep the player happy and on better terms as well.
“So my sense of the situation is that it’s blown over and that Gnonto respects Leeds’ position and that nothing will be sanctioned mid-season. And then obviously, by the summer, it will all simply depend on whether Leeds go up of stay in the Championship.
“If they stay in the Championship, I think they’ll let Gnonto leave. But if they go back up into the Premier League, he may not want to leave and like I said before, if Everton is still the primary suitor, we also have to understand where they are to.”
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