Leeds United will have to make a few big transfer calls ahead of the January window to give themselves a chance of survival in the Premier League, with Wilfried Gnonto now on the chopping block.
Daniel Farke is fighting for his future at Elland Road after a run of four defeats in five in the Premier League. He is said to have the next four games to improve results or lose his job.
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However, regardless of who the Leeds manager is in the new year, the squad need reinforcements as the club look woefully short of quality in the forward line. Leeds need attackers, but the club are worried about breaking the PSR regulations.
The club are now pondering selling a couple of players in January to fund moves for new signings, and it seems a final decision is close to being made on Gnonto.
Leeds are ready to sell Wilfried Gnonto in the January transfer window
Gnonto has struggled with injuries this season and has not featured in the Premier League since a 1-0 defeat at Fulham in September.
He has been nursing a calf injury, and his absence from the squad meant that Brenden Aaronson has played in the right wing slot, which has been a frustrating sight for many fans.
Wilfried Gnonto in the 2025/26 season
Competition
Games 🏟️
Goals ⚽
Assists 🎯
Minutes ⏱️
👑 Premier League
4
–
–
194
☕ EFL Cup
1
–
1
32
Total
5
–
1
226
The Italy winger has also been linked with a move away from Leeds ahead of the winter window, with suggestions that he has suitors in the Saudi Pro League.
According to transfer insider Dean Jones, Leeds are prepared to sell the winger in the January transfer window if they are offered the right price.
He also believes the Italian would also want to move if a big enough club make a good offer for him in January.
He said: “This is going to be a transfer window of opportunism, and there are clubs that have been tracking Gnonto, wondering if he is finally going to leave.
“I expect someone to try their luck, and I have a feeling the player will have his head turned if a big enough side comes in for him.
“Leeds would sell him at the right price, I’m pretty sure of that.”
Leeds need to raise funds to spend money in January, and Jones feels that Gnonto is a player who could bring in a decent fee that could be reinvested into the squad.
“I get the feeling he’s a player they would now sell and then reinvest because they really are looking for some new life in their attack.
“Primarily that would be in the shape of a striker, but I wouldn’t rule out any player with attacking nous at this point because the club’s hierarchy know they have left the team short of options up top.”
The right time to sell Gnonto to fund the arrival of a new striker
Gnonto’s injuries have not helped Leeds this season. However, he is one of the few saleable assets that the club have who could generate a profit from his departure.
Leeds paid a little less than £4m when they signed him in 2022.
They could expect to sell him for four or five times that figure, especially if the interest from Saudi Arabia is genuine.
The Italian has rarely lived up to the early promise he showed in Leeds colours, and has not put up the kind of numbers that he should have over the last few years.
✨ Wilfried Gnonto’s Career Performance for Leeds United
Club
Games Played 🏟️
Goals Scored ⚽
Assists 🎯
Leeds United
123
22
14
His recurring muscle injuries are also a concern, and January could be the right time to part ways with the Italy winger.
Leeds also need funds to sign attackers. If they want to fund a £26m move for Troy Parrott in January, they need significant sales from the squad.
The Whites have decent cover in the wide areas. Gnonto’s departure could lead to them signing the striker they need to survive in the Premier League this season.
