Leeds United may have to be harsh in selecting who remains and who leaves this summer.
Since the 1-0 defeat to Southampton in the Championship play-off final ten days ago, much of the attention has been on who could leave Elland Road when the transfer window opens.
Crysencio Summerville and Archie Gray are just two of the players who have sparked the greatest attention thus far, with Leeds aware that certain crucial players will have to leave.
However, chairman Parag Marathe has been quite certain that Leeds will have a squad ready to go one better when August arrives.
Though this will entail financing for new players, it will also require being strong in telling those who see their future at a higher level that they will not be leaving.
Transfer insider reveals the latest on Willy Gnonto’s future.
Following the lucrative sponsorship contract with Red Bull, as well as the probable sale of returning loanees, Leeds are unlikely to have to sell everyone this summer.
Championship POTS Summerville appears to be the most likely to move away, with Leeds offering a reputed £30 million fee.
Chelsea and Liverpool are among those interested, and you wouldn’t blame him for considering a move to one of those clubs if they made concrete bids.
However, in an exclusive interview with LeedsUnited.News, transfer insider Graeme Bailey suggested Summerville’s departure could help the club keep his close pal Willy Gnonto.
Gnonto has previously been linked with a move this summer following Leeds’ play-off final failure, with reports suggesting he is looking to return to Italy.
Bailey believes Leeds may regard Gnonto as the ideal in-house successor for Summerville, and they would be reluctant to lose both. He wouldn’t be surprised if he signed a new contract.
He stated: “He had discussions about a new contract that went unsigned. It wouldn’t surprise me if he signed a new contract. They cannot let everyone go. If Summerville were to go, would Gnonto be an appropriate replacement? Arguably, yes.
“With Gnonto, it depends on who else departs. Given his season, if you couldn’t sell him last summer, I doubt clubs will be lining up this summer. For his career, he would be better suited sticking at Leeds and signing a new contract.
“That’s how I see it playing out, unless one of those Italian suitors really likes him, but I don’t see Leeds accepting a significantly lower sum for him. It will be difficult for anyone to get him out, as demonstrated last summer.”
Gnonto had been close to a new deal with Leeds earlier this year.
Given recent events in his future, it will be intriguing to watch what happens with the ‘outstanding’ Gnonto this summer.
Not only did Leeds expect to sign a new contract in January, but Gnonto also parted ways with the agent who had represented him during last year’s crisis.
The 20-year-old had a solid run of form in the second half of the campaign, but he did not have the season that Summerville did.
Perhaps Leeds could convince him with another year of Championship football by making him the main man on the left flank in place of Summerville.
