Leeds United manager Daniel Farke has held meetings with the hierarchy about his summer plans after Wilfried Gnonto’s price tag has been set.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Leeds United have been holding internal discussions about their transfer plans, hoping to improve their chances of keeping Wilfried Gnonto.
- Despite their desire to keep the Italy international, the Whites will contemplate selling him if a £30 million proposal is made in the summer.
- Respected journalist Ben Jacobs understands that Leeds manager Daniel Farke is desperate to keep his team’s spine intact.
Leeds United manager Daniel Farke has met with chairman Paraag Marathe and other members of the Elland Road hierarchy to discuss summer transfer plans, and journalist Ben Jacobs has told GIVEMESPORT that promotion to the Premier League would allow the Whites to’rebuff offers’ for Wilfried Gnonto.
The Yorkshire giants have entered the final stages of the season vying for an immediate return to the top division, having won the second-most games in the Championship, and preparations are underway for what could be a hectic window.
Leeds struggled to keep Gnonto during the early stages of the season, with him submitting a transfer request in an attempt to force a quick return to the Premier League amid interest from Everton, but there is uncertainty about his long-term future in his current surroundings.
Whites set the price tag on Gnonto ahead of any bids.
According to Football Insider, Leeds are willing to sell Gnonto if a suitor satisfies their £30 million demands when the transfer window reopens, and interested parties are closely monitoring his status as they prepare for the 2024/25 season.
Although the report suggests that the Whites are keen to keep the 20-year-old Italy international, who has scored double figures this season, they have set a price after learning that Premier League and Serie A clubs are interested in signing him.
Dean Jones, a transfer insider, recently told GIVEMESPORT that Leeds are desperate for Gnonto to commit his long-term future to the club just months after he made no secret of his desire to leave, which would put his current employers in a stronger negotiating position than potential offers.
The attack-minded winger is about to approach the final three years of his Elland Road deal, which pays him £20,000 per week, and failure to achieve a spot in the top division would result in admirers sniffing out an opportunity to test the Whites’ resolve with a formal offer.
Ben Jacobs – Farke Desperate to Keep Key Men Amid Internal Talks
Jacobs understands that Farke has reiterated his desire to keep key members of his squad during discussions with members of the 49ers Enterprises-led Leeds hierarchy, and that returning to the Premier League at the first opportunity would help the German tactician in his efforts to ward off interest.
The respected journalist is expecting Gnonto to stop short of handing in another transfer request if he is the subject of bids during the summer window after discovering that taking action will not necessarily result in the Whites caving in and giving in to his demands to embark on a fresh challenge.
Jacobs told GIVEMESPORT:
“If Leeds go up, the aim will be to keep the core of their squad together. The Leeds ownership have already had one meeting with Daniel Farke as part of their pre-summer planning. In that meeting, they have made it clear that promotion to the Premier League will afford him the ability to keep the spine of his squad together.
“Leeds are fighting to return to the Premier League and the added bonus of that is, if they do so, they will be in a position to rebuff offers.
“If someone comes calling for Wilfried Gnonto and Leeds are in the Premier League, and they don’t want to sell him, I would expect him to have learned from that original Everton saga and to handle it a lot differently.”
Aston Villa Plotting Summer Move for Summerville
Leeds may face a battle to keep Crysencio Summerville, as Aston Villa are keeping an eye on the Dutchman’s status, according to Football Insider, and he is anticipated to leave if his current club is forced to compete in the Championship for another season.
According to the source, Villans manager Unai Emery has assigned scouts to keep an eye on the winger during the season, during which he has contributed around 30 goals in the second division, and he is worth more than £30 million after becoming a key cog in the Whites’ attack.
Transfer specialist Fabrizio Romano recently told GIVEMESPORT that Leeds are willing to speak with Summerville and his representation in order to persuade him that staying at Elland Road is the best choice for his career as he prepares for the 2024/25 season.
