Leeds United get late FA green light on £3.8million-plus last-gasp Wilfried Gnonto deal - MOT 2/9/22
By George Overhill
Leeds United have got the “ok” from the FA over an
ultra-late move to secure long-term target Wilfried Gnonto on deadline day,
Gianluca Di Marzio reports.
After dramatically losing out to Nice when they thought they
had Bamba Dieng in the bag from Marseille earlier in the day, United still let
Dan James leave for Fulham on loan, raising hopes that a late, late surprise
was on the cards to replace him.
That turned out to be a truly deadline-busting and
incentive-heavy €4.5million agreement with FC Zurich for Gnonto, who had
previously agreed personal terms, and that has reportedly been given the green
light despite its late nature.
Writing on his personal Twitter account after the transfer
deadline had passed on Thursday night (1 September), Sky Sports Italy reporter
Di Marzio said: “Italian talent Gnonto done deal to LUFC from Zurich, last
minute.
“FA’s “ok” has just arrived. €4.5m transfer fee + add-ons +
% on future resale.”
The proof will be in what the teenager can contribute on the
pitch, but United have managed to secure somebody to come in and add to the
striker rotation.
Patrick Bamford, then Joe Gelhardt, then on Tuesday (30
August) Rodrigo, have all suffered injuries already in the early weeks of the
campaign, proving that it was going to be foolish to attempt to get through a
season without adding someone else.
It is a far cry from the €40million that Andrea Radrizzani
was willing to shell out a few weeks ago on Charles De Ketelaere, and questions
should rightly be asked about how it came down to the very last moments to land
anyone.
But Gnonto has been a target for some time and it looks like
having been burned so badly earlier in the day the club turned to the
18-year-old in a moment of desperation.
He is already a full Italy international at his young age,
and has scored or assisted 22 times for Zurich, so there certainly looks to be
a mix of quality and potential there.
But with favourite stand-in option James now a Fulham player
for the rest of the season it will be interesting to see if Jesse Marsch is
willing to turn to the new man, considering how he has often been hesitant to
let Gelhardt loose despite being older.
It is indicative of how they may not be sold on his ability
to contribute straight away that the deal is loaded with add-ons and a resale
percentage, but at the very least they have another option.
Before today Gnonto may have been considered a disappointing
outcome from the final day, and as Dieng arrived at the airport in France he
certainly would have been.
Considering the wild way events turned out it is a relief of
sorts, but the end of the transfer window has left plenty of supporters far
more uneasy about the way the club is being run than they were even during the
strong start to the season on the pitch.
