Leeds United will hope to avoid another transfer headache next summer, but early signs from Italy suggest they may not get the outcome they want from one of their loan deals.
The Whites have a clear incentive to make a temporary departure permanent. It would bring in a sizeable fee, free up space in their plans, and let them focus on players with a future at Elland Road. Unfortunately, the situation isn’t developing as they’d hoped.
A deal worth £18m remains possible, but the player needs to start making a much stronger impression if his current club is to consider committing that kind of money.
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Gnonto struggling to make his mark at Fiorentina
Wilfried Gnonto has had a difficult start at Fiorentina, struggling to establish himself as a regular in Italy.
The 22-year-old has yet to score or provide an assist in Serie A and has started just one league game. Those numbers are uncomfortable for a player who needs to convince Fiorentina he is worth keeping beyond his loan spell.
His latest outing did little to change the picture. Gnonto came off the bench in Fiorentina’s 2-1 defeat to Inter at the weekend, but he failed to make the kind of impact that might have given his manager a reason to give him more minutes.
Of course, one substitute appearance against a strong opponent is hardly enough to judge a player’s entire season. Fiorentina were beaten, and opportunities are hard to come by when a team is chasing a result. But Gnonto’s lack of involvement across the campaign is becoming a concern.
For an attacking player, goals and assists are often the quickest way to win over a new set of supporters and convince a club to invest in the future. Gnonto hasn’t managed either in the league so far, and his limited starts suggest he still has plenty of work to do to establish himself.
He still has time to turn things around, but he needs to make the most of every opportunity that comes his way.
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Leeds face the prospect of another summer headache
From Leeds’ perspective, the situation is worth watching because Fiorentina have an £18m option to make Gnonto’s move permanent.
That would be a significant return for the Whites and let them draw a line under a transfer situation that could otherwise drag into another window. With recruitment decisions to make across the squad, securing a permanent departure would give Leeds greater clarity over their budget and plans.
However, Fiorentina are unlikely to be enthusiastic about paying £18m if Gnonto continues to struggle for minutes and produce little in the final third. Clubs rarely commit that sort of money on potential alone; they want evidence he can make a meaningful contribution.
Gnonto is still only 22, and a difficult spell does not mean his career has reached a dead end. A run of starts, a goal or a couple of decisive performances could quickly change the conversation. Leeds will hope he finds that form, even if it means their former player becomes a more attractive option for another club.
If his situation does not improve, though, the Whites may have to prepare for an alternative scenario. Fiorentina could decide not to activate their option, leaving Leeds to find another buyer or welcome Gnonto back to Elland Road next summer.
That would be far from ideal for a club looking to plan ahead rather than carry unresolved transfer business into another season. Nothing is decided yet, but Gnonto needs to give Fiorentina a compelling reason to commit £18m. For now, his performances do little to make that decision easy.
