EFL pundit reacts after claims Leeds United have just done a ‘massive u-turn’

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Former Leeds United player Carlton Palmer believes Wilfried Gnonto would only command a fee of around £10 – £15 million now.

Gnonto was the subject of intense interest from Everton in the summer with Leeds rejecting a number of offers, the highest of which totalled around the £25 million mark.

The 20-year-old pushed hard for a couple of weeks to leave Leeds for Goodison Park, but 49ers Enterprises held firm in their stance that he was not for sale, and as such, things were smoothed over.

But speaking to Football League World, Palmer now believes Leeds will regret not accepting that offer having heard that the club have done a ‘u-turn’ on his future.

He thinks Leeds would only be able to command a fee of around £10-£15 million to sell him in January, considerably lower than the offer Everton made in the summer.

Leeds don’t have to sell Gnonto

He said: “Leeds United, in a massive u-turn, are said to be willing to cash in on Gnonto in the January window. Leeds’ stance was that he wasn’t for sale, despite being banished from the first-team squad after feeling he was unable to play after offers were rejected throughout the summer.

“However, his performances this season have been poor. He’s only started six games and scored one goal with a further assist. Leeds rejected a £25m bid from Everton in the summer, when he tried to force a move.

“They won’t see that type of money again, so I think £10-£15m is the most Leeds would look to get for a player underperforming in the Championship.”

Gnonto’s stock may have dropped having spent a lot of this season on the bench, but that does not mean Leeds have to sell him, and certainly not for less than what they rejected in the summer.

Daniel Farke has already made his intentions clear that keeping everyone is his priority in January, and so accepting that sort of offer for a 20-year-old Italian international just won’t happen.

Gnonto is unlikely to be happy with the number of minutes he has played in recent weeks, but there is no doubting his ability and so you can bet he will have a big role over the second half of the season.