Leeds: Six-cap international will soon ‘make his mark’ at Elland Road | OneFootball

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GiveMeSport

·28 September 2022

Leeds: Six-cap international will soon ‘make his mark’ at Elland Road

Article image:Leeds: Six-cap international will soon ‘make his mark’ at Elland Road

Leeds United striker Wilfried Gnonto will start to ‘make his mark’ at Elland Road as games tick by, with the teenager possessing ‘huge potential’ to be a success, according to journalist Dean Jones.

Gnonto made the move to West Yorkshire during the summer as part of Jesse Marsch’s first transfer window in charge as just shy of £100 million was spent.


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What’s the latest on Gnonto?

The Whites spent £3.8 million bringing the 18-year-old to the club from FC Zurich as he penned a five-year deal at Thorp Arch.

However, Marsch later admitted that the decision to bring him in during the current window was a late call.

The American said that the initial plan was to continue monitoring the forward and ‘maybe’ move in a future transfer window. He added that the decision was accelerated later on.

Gnonto is yet to make an appearance for the Leeds first team but has had a runout with the under-21s, playing 81 minutes in a clash with Southampton.

But the burgeoning talent has already established himself as part of Roberto Mancini’s Italy squad, recently taking his appearance tally to six caps with a substitute showing against England and a start away to Hungary this month.

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Article image:Leeds: Six-cap international will soon ‘make his mark’ at Elland Road

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What has Jones said on the player?

Jones believes Gnonto will start to make an impact on Leeds’ season as the weeks progress and he gets more experience from the substitutes’ bench.

The journalist adds that the teenager has huge potential and that his manager will want to be able to call on him regularly by the end of the season.

Jones told GIVEMESPORT: “I think this is a player we will see slowly start to make his mark, probably from the bench at first as he builds an understanding of the Premier League. But there is huge potential here and I think, by the end of the season, Jesse Marsch will be hoping he’s got a player that he can give more and more game time.”

Who is Gnonto competing with?

Marsch is not blessed with an abundance of striking talent at Elland Road, meaning Gnonto’s time may come sooner than he thinks.

Rodrigo is the club’s leading scorer this season with four Premier League goals and has been played as a lone striker after Patrick Bamford suffered more injury problems.

The marksman is nearing a return to full fitness, however, while Gnonto’s remaining competitors take the shape of fellow youngsters Joe Gelhardt and Sam Greenwood.

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