Leeds’ business this season has been largely based on which players the club could possibly keep hold of after relegation.
For the large part, they were powerless to stopping a number of players securing their exits, but with Willy Gnonto, it was a fierce battle the club never wanted to lose.
Leeds are now said to be growing “increasingly confident” of agreeing a new contract with the 20-year-old this month – according to Sky Sports.
His current deal runs until 2027, with the club aiming to put any speculation on the winger’s future to rest after what unfolded in the summer window.
Gnonto has struggled for form this season after being in and out of the squad due to injury since Daniel Farke reintegrated him, and hasn’t been able to play on his more favoured left wing due to the form of Crysencio Summerville.
It was inevitable that January would bring speculation around Gnonto, after what happened with his refusal to play and transfer request in August.
However, we have clearly drawn a line under this with a new contract for the player, and his body language of late despite being a sub more often has been exemplary.
A young player like that was clearly badly advised, as much as he should have made better decisions and not thrown the club under the bus, and the best apology for him was to get his head down, prove to Farke that he’s committed, and then sit down for talks when the time was right.
Putting this to bed in the back end of the window is some of Leeds’ best business, as it would have been a tough closing period to the window not knowing whether one of our most talented players would leave.
Another speculative side-effect of this is that Leeds tying down Gnonto probably helps in convincing his best friend Crysencio Summerville to commit his future to the club too.
