NafisaLeeds United have finally reached an agreement that could bring an end to one of the more intriguing transfer situations surrounding Daniel Farke’s squad this summer.
The Whites have spent much of the window reshaping their squad ahead of another Premier League campaign, with several familiar faces departing Elland Road as Farke looks to build a group capable of competing at the highest level.
But one of the biggest questions heading into the final hours of the transfer window has surrounded the future of a talented young attacker who, despite still having plenty to offer, has gradually found himself slipping down the pecking order.
His lack of involvement at the beginning of the campaign only intensified the speculation, particularly after Leeds began exploring attacking reinforcements of their own.
There had already been interest from abroad, with clubs in Italy keeping a close eye on developments in Yorkshire. However, until recently, there remained uncertainty over whether Leeds would actually sanction an exit without first bringing another winger through the door.
That situation has now changed dramatically.
Fabrizio Romano has confirmed that Leeds have reached a verbal agreement with Fiorentina for the player to move to Serie A on loan.
The player at the centre of the agreement is Wilfried Gnonto, with Romano announcing: “Fiorentina have agreed a loan deal to sign Willy Gnonto from Leeds United, here we go!
“The verbal agreement is done with medical booked on Tuesday, as Sky Sport reported.
“#LUFC accepted to include a buy option clause in the deal; Fiorentina cover full Gnonto’s salary.”
That means Gnonto is now on the verge of completing a return to Italian football after Leeds agreed to let him join Fiorentina on loan.
The 22-year-old is expected to undergo his medical before the move is formally completed, but the major negotiations between the two clubs have now been settled.
Importantly for Leeds, Fiorentina will cover Gnonto’s full salary during the loan spell, while the agreement also contains an option to buy.
That gives the Whites a potential route towards a permanent resolution next summer if Gnonto impresses in Florence and Fiorentina decide they want to make the move permanent.
Gnonto’s Leeds career has been difficult to assess at times.
There have been plenty of flashes of the talent that made the club so determined to sign him, particularly during Leeds’ promotion campaign, but regular starts became increasingly difficult to come by last season.
He made only four starts in 25 appearances during the campaign, and Farke’s tactical adjustments left the Italian international struggling to establish himself as a regular starter.
That trend continued into the opening weeks of the new season.
Gnonto was recovering from a hamstring problem and missed Leeds’ first two league games, before returning to the matchday squad for the 1-1 draw against Brentford.
However, despite being named among the substitutes, he was not introduced.
Farke had previously insisted that Gnonto remained fully focused while at the club, but behind the scenes the possibility of a move was clearly becoming increasingly realistic.
The situation was also complicated by Leeds’ desire to strengthen their attacking options before allowing another winger to leave.
Chelsea’s Mykhailo Mudryk had emerged as a potential target, with Leeds continuing to explore the possibility of bringing the Ukrainian to Elland Road on loan.
That interest helped create an intriguing situation in the final stages of the window, with Gnonto potentially heading towards the exit while Leeds simultaneously searched for another attacking option.
Now, however, the Italian’s next destination is effectively settled.
Fiorentina, who have been active in the transfer market, have moved to secure Gnonto and will give him the opportunity to restart his career in Serie A.
For Gnonto, it represents a chance to return to the country where his football journey began and potentially play regular first-team football after finding opportunities increasingly limited at Elland Road.
For Leeds, the agreement provides immediate relief on the player’s wages while retaining an opportunity to secure a permanent transfer through the buy option.
It is therefore a move that could benefit all three parties.
Gnonto gets the opportunity to play regularly, Fiorentina gain a talented young attacker without committing to an immediate permanent fee, and Leeds create more room in their squad while keeping the door open for a future sale.
The next step is now the medical, with Romano confirming that it has been booked for Tuesday.
Unless something unexpected intervenes, Gnonto’s Leeds chapter is therefore set to enter a new phase in Florence — with the possibility of this loan eventually becoming a permanent goodbye.
Nafisa
