"I’m worried" - Willy Gnonto exit fear at Leeds United raised | OneFootball

FLW's Leeds United fan pundit has urged his club to keep Wilfred Gnonto this summer, despite PSR concerns.

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more...

After two years away from the English top flight, Leeds United will make their return to the Premier League next season, following an excellent Championship campaign under Daniel Farke.

The Whites secured their promotion back to the top flight on Easter Monday after a 6-0 thumping of Stoke City at Elland Road. This put right the agonising defeat at Wembley last season at the hands of Southampton.

Whilst spending is expected by the 49ers to ensure the Yorkshire club retains its Premier League status for many years to come, there are some rumblings that Leeds could face PSR issues due to their promotion.

With that in mind, the United owners could look to offload one or two players in the summer to give them a little more leeway when it comes to PSR, which would allow them to balance out the squad more evenly.

Leeds United urged to keep Wilfred Gnonto amid PSR concerns

Football League World asked their resident Leeds fan, Kris Smith, one player he'd like to see his club retain at all costs in the summer. The United expert replied: “Weirdly, I think Leeds might find themselves having to consider balancing the books somewhat in the Premier League by being promoted and getting that massive jump up in revenue.

“Two-thirds of our current accounting period with PSR has been spent in the EFL, where we’ve got hugely reduced revenue. With that in mind, I worry that someone bought for very little and could be sold for a lot might be someone we consider selling.

“Immediately, you look at Wilfred Gnonto, who has had a lot of interest since he signed for us, and he’s someone I’m worried the 49ers might consider selling to give us a bit more wiggle room with PSR," he continued.

“Obviously he joined for peanuts from Zurich in 2022, and you’d imagine he’d command £25-£30m now at least.

“Having said that, even if PSR does dictate he’d be a logical sale for us to allow more spending and balance out the whole team, to me, he’s just too talented to even think of letting go this summer."

Gnonto's years at Leeds could see him thrive upon Premier League return

Kris was spot on when he talked of the constant interest in the winger since his emergence onto the scene at Elland Road, with Gnonto even handing in a transfer request in 2023, amid interest from Everton.

However, the Leeds expert believes that the 21-year-old's extra experience in the first team since he last stepped onto the pitch in the top flight could see him return to the Premier League even better than before.

“He’s proven already that he’s capable in the Premier League in that season we got relegated. He was one of the only things that made that season fun," Kris said.

“Now, with two more seasons of first-team experience under his belt, he looks a much more rounded attacker, [he is] much more intelligent with the ball at his feet. He’s probably one of our most creative players.

“I think that the added space on the counter-attack will really benefit him in the Premier League, and I really hope the club don’t think he’s someone to sell.”

Whilst PSR is something that will have to be considered by the hierarchy at the Yorkshire side, the £50m valued man's extra years of first-team football with Leeds could see him be even more of a threat in the Premier League than he was last time.