Leeds United: Don Goodman makes new Wilfried Gnonto transfer prediction at Elland Road

 

If Leeds United isn’t promoted, Wilfried Gnonto will probably get further Premier League interest in the summer transfer window, according to Don Goodman.

 

Since Leeds plummeted into the Championship, the Italy international

has been linked to Everton, West Ham, and other teams throughout the continent.

Everton are reported to have had multiple bids rejected for Gnonto last

summer, the last of which was in the region of £25.7million [BBC Sport journalist Shamoon Hafez].

Gnonto didn’t have much of an impact on Leeds this season at first, but he has since developed into one of Daniel Farke’s main players and is once again displaying his Premier League abilities.

 

When asked if it is now likely that the 20-year-old will remain at Elland Road after this season, Goodman responded, “It depends on many things,” to MOT Leeds News. After being patient, he is now initiating games and generating results.

 

We were aware of his potential, even though I believe the summertime incident had an impact on him. He

received a lot of criticism, which is difficult when you’re 19 and have thin

skin, and in my opinion, he doesn’t have the thickest skin.

He was always going to be affected, yet he still made a contribution. Now that he has the shirt, it is up to him to continue contributing and remain a member of the squad. Well, that’s never a simple thing, considering the caliber Leeds United has to choose from.

 

However, it does keep you alert and honest. How many goals and assists does

he score and assist between now and the summer window will depend on his form.

Premier League clubs potentially circling Leeds United star

Goodman added: “How much of an impact does he have for Leeds United? If that’s good, he’ll be a Premier League player anyway given the way Leeds are going. So his future comes down to a lot of factors.

“If Gnonto maintains his current form and Leeds stays in the Championship through the end of the season, I’m confident he’ll be in high demand once more, and people will overlook his ignorance in taking a summer strike.

 

“He might want to stay anyhow if everything goes really well and he leads Leeds United to the Premier League.”

Daniel James absence a blessing for Gnonto

To put Gnonto’s form into some context, the Italian scored and assisted a combined two goals in his first 26 appearances of the campaign for Leeds.

Since then, he has made four appearances, scoring four goals and

providing an assist while Daniel James has been sidelined due to injury on the right wide end.

 

In Tuesday’s 4-0 victory over Swansea City, Gnonto put on one of his greatest

performances since joining Leeds, scoring two goals and setting up Joel Piroe.

Daniel Farke has seen Wilfried Gnonto hit peak form at the perfect time for Leeds United

Though there had been rumors that the former FC Zurich star would be signing a new contract at Elland Road, there hasn’t been any update on that front recently.

 

If other teams show interest in Leeds in the summer, a new contract would offer them far more negotiating leverage, although it’s unclear if any will do so.

 

As Goodman points out, a lot of things will happen between now and the summer that will decide that.

 

There’s no question bids will come in again if he maintains even half of the form he’s displayed these past few weeks.