Daniel Farke has a number of Leeds United forwards who will be crucial next season, with Willy Gnonto hoping to be among them.
The Leeds United winger won promotion and Gnonto also won the Young Player of the Season award for his efforts last year, scoring nine and assisting six in the process.
Having been dropped midway through the season, Gnonto had to work his way back in. Crysencio Summerville is delighted with Gnonto’s progress since leaving for West Ham United.
Now back in pre-season, Gnonto is currently competing with Dan James, Largie Ramazani, and Jack Harrison for a place in Farke’s team next season. Things could yet change in the transfer market for them yet, though.
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Willy Gnonto has jewellery confiscated by Daniel Farke
Even though Gnonto had a below-par tournament for Italy U-21s in Slovakia, where the young Italian Leeds forward was also sent off, he is raring to go ahead of the Premier League season.
In fact, Gnonto’s national media hammered him for the display, but he needs to be deployed in a role which suits him best off one of the flanks — and preferably the left-hand side.
Gnonto chose to join Leeds earlier than planned, as opposed to Mateo Joseph, for pre-season. That sort of attitude will take him far this summer and heading into the new season.
Gnonto seriously impressed against Man United in Saturday’s opening pre-season game already, with Jermain Defoe believing Gnonto is a match-winner. Leeds need those next season.
Although pre-season is a time to knuckle down and impress, players can also enjoy and express themselves. However, it’s also a serious and professional environment.
The Yorkshire Evening Post explained one situation that unfolded in training regarding Gnonto. Farke had to step in to confiscate a gold necklace, complete with crucifix, from the neck of Gnonto.
That’s because he had forgotten to remove it before training. The Leeds chief then passed the jewellery to first-team operations manager Matt Robertshaw, where he remarked: “A gift for your missus… oh, dear me.”
Gnonto has something to prove next season, providing the club retain him. However, Pascal Struijk and Gnonto are frequently mentioned as PSR sale options for Leeds this summer, should they feel the need to ease the financial constraints upon them.
Willy Gnonto’s Premier League ambitions with Leeds United
Despite being just 21 years of age, there are only six players in the current Leeds dressing room with more appearances for the club than Gnonto.
He spoke to The Athletic in recent days and explained how the last few years have shaped him ahead of playing Premier League football for the first time since May 2023.
He said: “Now I feel like I enjoy it more. I’m a better man. I’m a bit more experienced and I really needed it.
“I always thought I could make an impact in the Premier League. Maybe I was a bit young and I didn’t really understand what was going on, but at that point, I felt like I could play there, and I proved to myself I could do it.
“It’s nice to be back. I probably have something else to prove because I want to prove myself again, that I can be there. I know I can be there and I want to show everyone. It’s going to be fun.
“It’s way different from the Championship. In most games, we had the ball for the whole time and were playing against low blocks. It’s a bit difficult, but in the Prem, you have more space for teams like ours.
“We are going to try to exploit them and use them. For me, it’s going to be fun — one-v-ones, and then it’s going to be up to me to make things happen and change the game.”
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