Leeds United have a few big decisions to make on certain players before the end of the transfer window as they seek to upgrade the squad this summer.
The Whites are closing in on a deal to sign midfielder Shea Charles, despite Southampton rejecting their opening bid of £20m, which was deemed not enough to trigger his sale.
Leeds are also advancing on a deal to sign Harry Wilson on a free transfer this summer, and have offered him a huge pay rise to convince him to move to Elland Road.
The Fulham winger’s potential arrival this summer is almost certain to draw a curtain on the time of one Leeds forward at Elland Road ahead of the new season.
Harry Wilson’s arrival will almost end with the sale of Wilfried Gnonto
Wilfried Gnonto was heavily linked with a move away from Leeds in January. However, the club decided against selling him in the middle of the season.
German club Freiburg have held talks with Leeds over a deal to sign him. However, there is still no agreement on his departure.
But Wilson’s potential arrival will almost certainly mean the end of Gnonto as a Leeds player before the end of the ongoing summer transfer window.
The Italian struggled for game time last season once Leeds shifted to a new formation and was nothing more than a squad player in the latter half of the campaign.
Wilson’s arrival will certainly push him further down the pecking order, and a departure is the only logical option for him this summer.
Even Noah Okafor’s place in the team could be threatened if Wilson joins on a free transfer. However, Gnonto will almost certainly have to leave.
Leeds hope that his future could be sorted out soon to allow Gnonto to have a fresh start at a new club before pre-season begins.
A summer departure works for everyone
Daniel Farke’s tactical switch midway through last season left Wilfried Gnonto in a difficult position, as the Italian no longer seemed a natural fit for the system Leeds United were using.
While he continued to feature in cup competitions, his role in the Premier League became increasingly limited, with most of his appearances coming from the bench rather than in the starting line-up.
Farke has always preferred to stick with a settled team when results are going well, and once Leeds found their rhythm in the new system, Gnonto found it tough to force his way back into the side regularly.
There was no shortage of interest in him during the January transfer window, but a move never materialised, and he remained at Elland Road. This summer, though, the situation feels very different, with the winger’s departure looking increasingly possible.
If Gnonto does move on, Leeds will be looking to secure a sizeable transfer fee. Any funds generated from his sale could then be used to help strengthen other areas of the squad ahead of the new campaign.
