Leeds United player against Farke transfer would be kiss of death for summer move

Talk of Leeds United’s major summer moves has been dominated by Crysencio Summerville so far. The Championship Player of the Season was always going to be the marquee name the Eagles would start circling around this window.

As a cheap arrival in 2020, Summerville would generate a huge boost to United’s profitability and sustainability (PSR) picture if sold at the current price for a second-tier star name. He is not the only asset that can attract outsiders this summer either.

Wilfried Gnonto, who was so desperate for a move last summer that he went on strike, will be of interest to suitors for similar reasons. At 20, with 13 Italy caps to his name, Gnonto stands out as an asset with plenty of room for development playing at a club where every player will have his price.

READ MORE: Leeds United’s loan clause is active again and they are paving the way for the latest exit from Elland Road

Last season was not easy for the Italian. The strike in August set him back, at least mentally if not physically, and there would be no goals until February’s trip to Bristol City. That hit, followed by a roar at the opposite end, flipped a switch.

Seven goals and an assist would land in 11 games in all competitions to really invite Gnonto to the party heading into promotion. The pain of that defeat at Wembley will have cut deep on Gnonto, but will he be more keen to play in England’s second tier than he was 12 months ago?

Gnonto is understood to have changed agents since last summer’s transfer window. Claudio Vigorelli was behind the written transfer request which was sent to both Paraag Marathe and journalists at the same time to maximize its impact.

With a change in his representation, there could at least be a change of strategy towards the striker this summer. Tentative rumors of an imminent new deal at Elland Road in January never came to fruition.

Gnonto remains on terms he agreed as an 18-year-old heading to the club’s under-21 side. In short, there are three more years to run on wages that are well below the level Gnonto achieved as a first-team regular with United.

If the former Inter Milan youth would rather leave than stay before August 30, there are right and wrong ways to go about it. Leeds, managed by Daniel Farke, showed they will not be dictated to by a 19-year-old last summer.

In a window full of loan clauses that left Farke et al powerless. as they watched their team strip for parts, Gnonto was a player they could set their agenda on. Once it became a battle of wills, player vs manager, Farke would only allow one winner.

Apologies and reinstatement eventually came, but the manager was clear, there would be no third chance for Gnonto if something like this happened again. The full-back’s representation can by all means inform Leeds of how they want this summer to play out, but if Gnonto repeats anything like his actions in 2023, he can expect this window to blow up in his face.

Maybe he wants to stay. Leeds may be in a financial position to keep him. He might be the figurehead of Summerville next season, but if an exit is what he wants, he needs to keep his head down, keep working hard and keep his dummy firmly between his lips.