Leeds United forward Wilfried Gnonto has been linked with a move to the Premier League following an uncertain spell at Elland Road.
Gnonto was at the heart of a transfer controversy in the summer as the forward tried to force a move away from Leeds United. The 20-year-old was subsequently omitted from the squad for most of August.
The player’s decision was initially met with hostility by the Elland Road faithful before he made a U-turn and opted to stay with Leeds.
Gnonto started the Peacocks’ Championship opener in a 2-2 home draw with Cardiff before Daniel Farke re-introduced the Italian for the side’s 4-3 win against Ipswich Town on August 26.
The 20-year-old has since been a bit-part player with the Whites throughout the 2023/24 campaign and has made just six Championship starts, scoring one goal.
With the winter transfer market on the horizon, speculation about Gnonto’s departure has resurfaced and The Express have reported that the Italian player is seen as the ideal backup for Bukayo Saka at Arsenal.
Ultimately, the rumours are an extension of the news first reported by Italian outlet Calcio Mercato, who highlighted how Gnonto was being monitored by Man City and the Gunners following Leeds’ relegation from the Premier League in May.
In the closing stages of the 2022/23 campaign, Gnonto was a bright spark for the Lillywhites, scoring three goals in his last ten appearances.
After coming through Inter Milan’s youth ranks, Gnonto was signed by FC Zurich in 2020 before moving to Elland Road in September 2022 for around £3.8million.
Writer’s View
For Farke and Leeds, the end of the Gnonto saga would be a relief as the 20-year-old has failed to progress as expected in the Championship. The Italian’s relationship with Leeds fans and Farke is already fractured and a comeback for the 20-year-old to the fold seems unlikely, especially as he has made just two starts in the team’s last eight matches.
The Yorkshire club could be tempted to offload an unsettled Gnonto to bolster their promotion-chasing squad, especially as the Italian has a price tag of around £15.5 million, according to Tansfermarkt.
