Wilfried Gnonto is expected to sign a contract with a Premier League team this month, and Leeds United have already lined up a replacement.

The Italy international was strongly linked to a summer transfer to Everton, but Leeds turned down many approaches for the player at the time.

Gnonto has not been able to capitalise on its strong results from previous season, as they have only managed one goal in 21 outings in the tournament thus far.

This hasn’t stopped his Premier League admirers, though, as a recent report indicates that West Ham is still in the running to sign him.

Leeds ‘expect’ Gnonto to join West Ham this month, and they’ve identified a Burnley winger as the ideal alternative, according to transfer journalist Sacha Tavolieri.

Tavolieri posted on X, “Leeds are expecting a (likely) sale of Wilfried Gnonto to West Ham United before the end of the window.”

“Manuel Benson is their top choice to replace him. [Discussions] are ongoing and open till the very end about Burnley’s Belgian winger!

 

Leeds eye move for Burnley’s Manuel Benson

This month, Leeds is hoping to add a few new players to its roster in an effort to help Daniel Farke lead his team to promotion for the first time.

The Yorkshire team is now seven points behind Ipswich Town in second place in the Championship standings.

They will prioritise finding a replacement winger if they do lose Gnonto, and Benson seems like he could be a great fit.

After joining Burnley in 2022, he scored 12 goals in 33 league games and was a major contributor to the team’s Championship title success the previous year.

Benson has found it difficult to maintain that level of play in the Premier League, and as a result, Vincent Kompany has removed him from the Clarets squad.

For a number of weeks, there have been rumours that the 26-year-old may be leaving Turf Moor despite having just played 73 minutes of actual football this season.

For Benson’s career, returning to the Championship may be the best option, though it’s unclear at this time if Leeds intend to sign him long-term or on loan.

But, if Gnonto signs with West Ham this month as Tavolieri says, he is a guy Leeds supporters should definitely keep an eye on.