Gnonto to be sold? Leeds United must solve these 6 issues before August 30th | OneFootball

FLW outline some of the biggest transfer headaches facing Daniel Farke and Leeds United this summer, including the future of Willy Gnonto.

Leeds United will be sweating on the futures of vital players after failure to gain promotion at the first time of asking, whilst numerous players are also returning from loan, with most expected to depart.

The Whites will be bracing themselves for a somewhat difficult transfer window, with plenty of interest expected in the young stars who took them to the cusp of promotion.

The Daily Mail has reported that the Whites may have to generate £100 million in player sales following their failure to secure promotion back to the Premier League at the first time of asking.

Here, we have taken a look at some of the biggest question marks hanging over the club with the window now open.

Crysencio Summerville

Perhaps the most valuable player among Daniel Farke's ranks is Crysencio Summerville, who was named as the Championship Player of the Year, and has been subject to interest from several Premier League teams.

Whether he was scoring goals himself or laying them on a plate for others, the £1.3 million signing from Feyenoord was one of the most-feared attacking players in the division. Summerville scored 21 goals and provided 10 assists, and such form from a 22-year-old wide player is never going to go unnoticed from top-flight clubs.

As revealed by journalist Ben Jacobs via Give Me Sport, Liverpool will be able to sign the ace for a lesser fee as a result of the Whites' play-off final defeat. Meanwhile, according to The Mirror, Crystal Palace will make a move for Summerville if they lose either one of Eberechi Eze or Michael Olise this summer.

Aston Villa have also been credited with an interest in the Dutchman and they join Chelsea in the running. Whilst Newcastle United have held discussions regarding Summerville recently, per The Athletic.

Brighton have been reported to have made initial contact with the Leeds over the winger, and have joined Liverpool and Chelsea in the race to sign him, according to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano. Romano added that he expects Leeds to get between £35 and £40 million, via the Daily Briefing.

That money would ease plenty of the club's financial concerns and could be put to multiple areas of the squad.

Archie Gray

Leeds' teenage sensation took home the division’s Apprentice of the Season award after a stunning campaign at Elland Road, whilst also winning the prestigious Championship Young Player of the Season award ahead of Jon Rowe and Jordan James.

Archie Gray has been one of the stories of the 2023/24 Championship campaign, making 52 appearances in all competitions for the Whites, meaning he missed just three of their games all season.

After missing out on promotion, according to Football Insider, Leeds' resolve "will be tested" when it comes to keeping hold of their sought-after academy graduate, as multiple suitors circle over a potential summer deal.

Retaining his services in the short and long-term is paramount, but could also be contingent on other departures within the squad this summer, but Leeds will no doubt be desperate to keep ahold of the 18-year-old star.

Junior Firpo

Reports stated earlier in the season that Leeds are not planning to offer Junior Firpo a new contract, according to The Athletic. It has also been reported previously that the Whites will be willing to listen to offers for Firpo in the summer, regardless of their league status.

Failure to cash-in on the left-back this summer would also mean the club would be at risk of losing him for nothing in the summer of 2025 due to his expiring contract, which sees him earn amongst the top players at Elland Road - unsurprisingly, given that he came from Barcelona.

The 27-year-old has given them food for thought at the back end of the season, though, having made 33 appearances for the Whites, contributing to eight assists, as per Transfermarkt. Not only that, but he has become one of the club's most consistent and reliable performers since the turn of the year.

There is plenty to be said of some continuity and consistency heading into next season, and that could see the club's stance change on Firpo, and possibly extend his current deal further, but they will require at least one left-back this summer, and possibly a many as two if Firpo departs.

Willy Gnonto

A player who reportedly wishes to leave Leeds in the summer transfer window, after the club missed out on promotion back to the Premier League, is Willy Gnonto.

As reported by Italian publication Calciomercato, the attacker wants to return to his native Italy after spending a year in the Championship. Although he stayed at Elland Road following relegation last summer, Gnonto had seemingly been keen on a move away from the club in 2023.

The 20-year-old is now said to have made himself available for a move, and is apparently keen to return to Italy, in the hope of forcing his way back into the Italian national team. Gnonto has been left out of the Azzurri's squad for this summer's European Championships in Germany, having previously won 13 senior international caps.

Gnonto still has three years left on his contract at Elland Road, and with that in mind, Leeds could hold out for a big fee for the 20-year-old, who has plenty of time to improve considering his age, and that potential can drive the price up somewhat, despite missing out on promotion.

Charlie Cresswell and Liam Cooper

Liam Cooper is in contract talks with Leeds, with the club looking to extend the captain's ten-year stay at Elland Road. However, with Pascal Struijk and Ethan Ampadu preferred at left-sided centre-back, and both sharing the captaincy at the club for the majority of the season, it feels as though his time could be coming to an end.

Cooper turns 33 this summer and the central defender has found his game time limited this term, with Joe Rodon coming in on loan to play alongside Struijk, whilst Ampadu is also able to operate in this role and has switched from holding midfield to centre-back in the absence of Struijk.

Rodon may have returned to Spurs and Ampadu is preferred in midfield, meaning Cooper's place has since risen slightly in the pecking order, especially with Charlie Cresswell featuring even less frequently than Cooper; but their time is surely coming to an end given the sheer lack of game time.

There is plenty of logic from the perspective of the Leeds hierarchy in having either as a squad option next year, but they have seldom featured enough. Either way, the Whites will require at least one central defender to replace Rodon, and at least ome more if both Cooper and Cresswell leave, which looks more likely than not at present.

The loanees

Brenden Aaronson is set to stay at Elland Road for the 2024/25 campaign, whilst the likelihood is that Jack Harrison will head out on loan, with an active release clause reportedly in his deal, per The Mirror.

The futures of all the other players who spent Leeds' first season back in the Championship out on loan will impact many other areas of the club.

If Leeds can sell the likes of Maximilian Wöber, Diego Llorente, Rasmus Kristensen, and Marc Roca, then it may allow them to retain other stars of the squad, by easing the financial restrictions on the club as a second year parachute payments team.

One or two of the Leeds' young stars will depart, but sales this summer for the aforementioned players, instead of loan deals, will help to balance the books and make their hand stronger when it comes to players such as Gray and Gnonto.