Leeds United have had multiple players who thrived for them in the Championship last season, make the step up to the Premier League seamlessly so far.
Ethan Ampadu, Joe Rodon and Jayden Bogle are just a few names that spring to mind who have handled the quality the top flight has to offer.
However, the same cannot be said for every Leeds player who was a part of their title-winning squad, with some of United’s attacking players struggling to contribute to the team when it comes to scoring and assisting.
This has not gone unnoticed by Sky Sports pundit and former Arsenal forward Alan Smith, who tipped Leeds to sell two players in the summer that he does not feel are capable of cutting it in the Premier League.
Willy Gnonto and Dan James tipped for Elland Road exit by Alan Smith
Both James and Gnonto played vital roles last season under Daniel Farke, with the wingers putting up exceptional numbers as Leeds amassed 100 points and the Championship title.
But with the goals and assists for the duo drying up, as well as Farke’s change in system, Smith explained why the pair could find themselves shipped out of West Yorkshire this summer.
Speaking to bestbettingsites, Smith said: “I don’t think they’re Premier League quality, could do well in the Championship, but have struggled. And I think also the wing-back system has maybe worked against them,
“So there hasn’t really been a spot for them. But when they have had a chance, they’ve underwhelmed, really. So it might be that they leave Elland Road in the summer.”
If the 49ers were able to recoup a decent fee for either or both wingers, then they could be tempted to part ways with the pair who currently sit on the fringes of Farke’s squad.
Data suggests Willy Gnonto and Dan James have had limited involvement this season
It is almost unthinkable for Leeds fans that two players, Gnonto and James, who have been regulars in the team for the last couple of years, have been effectively frozen out after Farke’s change in system.
However, given how well the German manager has done so far this season, it is hard to argue with the results.
- Last season in the Championship, Gnonto and James played a combined total of 4,925 minutes
- This season in the Premier League, they have played a combined 798 minutes, a drastic reduction
- In the league last season, the pair combined to register 21 goals and 15 assists, whilst this season neither has scored, and Gnonto’s singular assist is the only one they have managed so far. (Sofascore)
With just nine games remaining in the current Premier League campaign, it is unlikely that either man will be trusted to play a substantial amount of minutes during United’s run-in, with both Gnonto and James surely assessing their own futures at Leeds.
Neither player has really hit the heights, but should we retain our status, James should definitely be sold to a Burnley or a Wolves or maybe a Spurs, someone bound for the Championship.