Willy Gnonto loan exit on the cards at Leeds United as agent arrives at Juventus HQ - MOT Leeds News 9/6/23
By Jonty Banks
Juventus want to sign Leeds United winger Willy Gnonto
summer after the club’s relegation to the Championship with a loan deal on the
cards, according to La Gazzetta dello Sport.
The Italian publication shared that The Old Lady made
contact with both Gnonto’s representatives on Thursday (8 June) as Marco
Busiello, one of the partners of agent Claudio Vigorelli, was at the club’s
headquarters.
No negotiations were held, and a potential transfer depends
on the future of Federico Chiesa, who has interest from both Liverpool and
Bayern Munich.
However, if the Italian giants lose their star attacker this
summer, their interest in Gnonto will become “concrete.”
Leeds United fans will have already become resigned to the
fact that they will lose the likes of Gnonto, Tyler Adams and Rodrigo this
summer, but the plan would have been to spend the transfer fees received for
their services on refreshing the first-team squad.
However, losing the Italian international on a loan deal
does the club no good whatsoever. Yes, there might be the possibility of a
later transfer fee, but that will be no good to the Whites.
They need money this summer, otherwise, whoever comes into
Elland Road as manager won’t be able to put his stamp on the first-team squad
with a string of new transfers.
Possibly part of the reasoning for a loan deal could be that
the 19-year-old reportedly doesn’t have a relegation clause in his contract,
meaning Leeds could demand a much higher fee for his services.
Either way, it looks ever more likely that the teenager will
be playing his football away from West Yorkshire next season.