As the season draws to a close, Leeds United are beginning to turn their attention towards the summer transfer window and the areas of the squad that still need improving.
The club’s recruitment staff have spent months scouting players and putting together target lists, but their work has intensified since Premier League survival was confirmed.
Leeds are not planning another major rebuild this summer. Instead, the focus is on bringing in a few important additions, with Daniel Farke making it clear he wants the board to match the ambition he has shown this season.
However, the club also need player sales to boost their transfer budget, and the club seem to have decided to sell Wilfried Gnonto in the upcoming transfer window.
Leeds are ready to sell Wilfried Gnonto
Wilfried Gnonto has been reduced to a squad option from the bench this season, and he has not started a Premier League game in months.
Freiburg are in talks with Leeds to secure a deal to sign the winger, who has been frustrated by his lack of game time at Elland Road this season.
Gnonto also dropped hints on social media that he is on his way out of Leeds in the upcoming summer transfer window.
And according to Football Insider, Leeds are prepared to sanction a deal to sell the Italian winger in the coming months.
The Whites would not stand in his way if a club are prepared to match the asking price set by the Whites for his sale in the summer window.
It has been claimed that Leeds want somewhere around £15m from Gnonto’s departure when the transfer window opens.
Such a figure would mean a significant profit from the sale of a player Leeds signed for just around £4m.
A sale works for everyone
Once Daniel Farke switched Leeds to a different system midway through the season, it became clear that Wilfried Gnonto no longer really fitted naturally into the team.
The Italian has continued to get minutes in cup competitions, but in the Premier League, he has mostly been used as an impact substitute from the bench.
Farke also likes to keep a settled starting line-up, and since changing tactics, he has rarely seen Gnonto as a regular starter.
Gnonto attracted plenty of interest during the January transfer window but ended up staying at Elland Road. Even so, it now seems increasingly likely that he will move on this summer.
Leeds will be hoping to receive a strong fee for the winger and reinvest that money into improving the squad ahead of next season.
