
Leeds United are not expecting to do much business in the winter transfer window. There are rumours of the club signing a striker and a goalkeeper but so far, the Yorkshire giants have kept their powder dry. A loan move for Joe Gelhardt is the only significant outgoing expected at Elland Road ahead of the window closing on 3rd February. However, there is speculation that Wilfried Gnonto has suitors in Saudi Arabia who are pushing to sign him in the winter transfer window. The Italy winger is no longer a certainty in the starting eleven after a string of poor performances but Leeds have not envisaged selling him in the middle of the season. However, there is merit to considering letting him go if the club receive a good fee for him.
Wilfried Gnonto was a certainty in the team until recently. However, poor performances and a lack of consistency led to him getting dropped from the starting eleven.
Manor Solomon has replaced him for the left winger’s role in the Leeds team and the Italian is now struggling to get his place back in the starting eleven.
He started in Leeds’ 1-0 win over Harrogate Town in the fourth round of the FA Cup on Saturday evening but he was unimpressive at Elland Road and did little to convince Daniel Farke that he deserves to get his starting berth back.
Gnonto has four goals and five assists to his name this season and his performances have not matched up to his talent, which led to him losing his place in the team.
Clubs in Saudi Arabia are interested in signing the Leeds winger this month but the Whites do not want to sell the player in the ongoing transfer window.
However, Leeds are not in a financial position to reject big-money offers for Gnonto in the winter window and there is a line of thinking that suggests that the club should cash in on the winger.
The Wilfried Gnonto sale will provide Leeds with money needed to strengthen other areas of the squad
Following the departure of attackers Crysencio Summerville and Geroginio Rutter last summer, Gnonto was expected to step up to the plate and become the main man for Leeds this season.
However, that has not happened and it seems, the winger has regressed rather than developed into a lethal player despite possessing the talent to dominate Championship defences.
If there is anything real about the interest from Saudi, Leeds should seriously consider selling a player who has yet to realise his potential at Elland Road.
If Gnonto is willing to move to Saudi, Leeds do not have many reasons not to cash in and bring in some big money from his departure in the winter window.
Solomon has already replaced the Italian in the team and Largie Ramazani has shown that he can be a good cover on the left wing when needed this season.
The money from Gnonto’s sale will help Leeds sign a striker they want and also invest in a new goalkeeper if Daniel Farke decides to change Illan Meslier between the sticks.
However, Leeds will also need to line up a replacement
Solomon and Ramazani are solid options for the left-wing role but the Israeli’s fitness record is sketchy and the latter is still not a proven commodity in the Championship yet.
Gnonto is an experienced player at this level and is one of those who have the experience of being in the heat of a battle for promotion.
Selling him would be a big decision and Farke and the Leeds hierarchy would not want to make such a call until they are completely certain of their options.
The Leeds boss would want a replacement lined up before any decision to sell Gnonto is taken by the Leeds board.
The club are currently not considering selling him but the tune could change if a big money offer from Saudi Arabia lands on their table in the coming days.
A lot could depend on whether Leeds would have the time to source a suitable replacement as Farke would not want to lose Gnonto without the guarantees of a new player coming in.
