Leeds United have reportedly slapped a £30m price tag on Wilfried Gnonto who seems highly likely to leave if they fail to secure promotion to the Premier League this summer – and also look set to make a significant loss on another underwhelming purchase.
After dropping into the Championship last season, which ended a chaotic campaign where four managers were in the dugout, Leeds are seeking an immediate return to the English top-flight.
Following a tumultuous last summer, where a host of players either left on loan or permanently, ex-Norwich City boss Daniel Farke has steadied the Leeds ship, and with three games of the Championship season to go, they are just two points off the last automatic promotion spot.
Behind the scenes, club owners the 49ers Enterprises will be preparing for the possibility of life in the Premier League, while also putting in place contingency plans should they fail to get out of the English second-tier this term.
While the Whites have not fallen afoul of profit and sustainability rules for the time being, if they are not promoted, they will have to sell some of their top talent in order to not be hit by any form of punishment.
Winger Crysencio Summerville is likely to be the most sought after player in Leeds’ squad after scoring 17 goals and bagging eight assists so far – which helped him notch the Championship player of the season award.
Liverpool, Tottenham and Bayer Leverkusen have been linked with the 22-year-old, but the Peacocks may also have teams come in for some of his team-mates, too.
Leeds set asking price for rising star
According to Football Insider, the 49ers are ‘likely’ to accept an offer close to £30m for attacker Gnonto if they don’t go up this season. However, they may be willing to go as low as £20m if sides are not willing to meet their asking price.
Leeds reportedly had a bid in the region of £25m rejected from Everton for Gnonto last summer, with the Championship outfit valuing the Italian international at £30m. The Toffees instead went on to sign Jack Harrison on a season’s loan, with his future also likely to be discussed this summer.
However, their interest in Gnonto has never waned and the possibility of the Italy winger leaving could become a hot topic once again come the season’s end.
The ex-Inter Milan academy product, who signed in September 2022 from Zurich for a paltry £4m, then tried to force an exit from Leeds and refused to play in the away defeat to Birmingham in September.
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