Sky Sports man blown away by what Leeds player has done since Crysencio Summerville and Georginio Rutter exits

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The summer exits of Georginio Rutter and Crysencio Summerville’s left two enormous holes in Daniel Farke’s Leeds United attack.

Rutter‘s £40 million move to Brighton, and Summerville‘s £25 million switch to West Ham, saw Leeds lose just shy of 50 goal contributions from the 2023/24 Championship season.

The two have had varying degrees of success since leaving Elland Road with Rutter now already up to two goals and an assist in Brighton colours.

Summerville, on the other hand, has started just one Premier League match for the Hammers and is having to be patient for his opportunity.

But regardless of how they are getting on at their new clubs, it was always going to be a big job replacing them, with Farke telling Leeds recruitment staff as early as January to prepare for their exits.

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Gary Weaver makes Wilfried Gnonto Leeds claim

Despite bringing in huge fees for both Summerville and Rutter, as well as Archie Gray, Leeds did not spend an awful lot on replacing them.

Largie Ramazani was Leeds’ most expensive attacking signing and was regarded as the Summerville replacement. He has made a great start in doing exactly that, with two goals and one assist in four starts.

Manor Solomon was Leeds’ only other attacking addition, but despite being hailed by Neil Redfearn as too good for the Championship, hasn’t had the chance to show it due to injury.

However, speaking on the latest episode of the ‘Essential EFL Podcast‘, Sky Sports commentator Gary Weaver says someone already at the club is who has stepped up this season.

Weaver believes Wilfried Gnonto has quickly developed into Leeds’ ‘main man’ this season, after providing another two assists at Sunderland on Friday night.

He said: “It was a cracking game, again the Championship at its best. It served up a brilliant feast on Friday night. Two teams who went after each other. I thought Leeds were really good actually, Willy Gnonto is this kind of his time now? He could be the main man after the departures in the summer.”

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Gnonto 23/24 vs 24/25 stats compared

There is no doubt Gnonto was overshadowed by his two close friends last season even after his run of goals late on in the season.

However, not only does the eye test show how much he has improved this term, but the statistics are there to back it up.