Willy Gnonto development at Leeds United is like Manchester City – BBC pundit
Paul Robinson is thrilled with the rumours circulating from Leeds United, which indicate that Willy Gnonto is about to ink a new deal at Elland Road.
According to Phil Hay and David Ornstein of The Athletic on January 22, the 20-year-old is thought to be close to reaching an agreement on better conditions to stay with the team during continuing negotiations.
That’s even though he hasn’t exactly been a regular starter for Daniel Farke in recent months and has been frequently linked to a transfer out following his unsuccessful attempt to sign with Everton during the summer transfer window.
For Gnonto to be prepared to sign under those circumstances, according to BBC Sport pundit Robinson, there needs to be a strong bond between him and the manager. This season, the Italian international has made just 10 starts across all competitions for Leeds United, and he has compared the team’s strength to that of Manchester City, who are undoubtedly competitive.
The former England goalie thinks that, with Dan James and Crysencio Summerville in excellent form this season, Gnonto’s decisions at Elland Road may have been influenced by the same dynamic where elite players were made to wait their time at the Etihad under Pep Guardiola).
To MOT Leeds News exclusively, he said:
“It’s a really good sign coming out of the club. It’s very hard to keep players happy who aren’t playing and Willy Gnonto hasn’t started every game this season.
“He’s been a bit-part player at the best of times, started some games, been in and out of the squad. But that’s what big squads do and that’s what good squads do.
“You liken it to Manchester City in the Premier League and the way that they rotate their squad. Players realise and appreciate that in a good, strong squad that is playing a lot of games they aren’t necessarily going to start every game.
“With a new manager coming in his relationship with him must be good if what we’re hearing, that he’s going to sign a new contract, is right.”
Gnonto still has big part to play at Leeds United
The 1-0 victory over Bristol City on February 2 may not have been the Italian’s best performance of all time, but it was his first Championship start of 2024 that saw him score the game’s lone goal.
With promotion to the Premier League looking very much in the near future, it served as a timely reminder that, even in James’s absence due to injury, he might still be extremely important in the last stretch of the season.
If he can make a few more significant interventions, he may be able to secure the opportunity to reprise some of his Premier League heroics while wearing a Leeds shirt. Those three points might mean the difference between a top-two finish and a play-off spot.
