Stars from Leeds United are already being connected to Elland Road after they were relegated to the Championship for another season over the weekend.
Leeds will undergo significant changes.
After Southampton defeated the Yorkshire team in the play-off final on Sunday thanks to a goal from Adam Armstrong, Daniel Farke’s team was eliminated. This meant Leeds would have to travel to Millwall instead of Manchester City the next season.
The Leeds manager expressed regret for his team’s decision-making on the day, saying, “We felt like we weren’t 100% committed to the final pass or shot,” even though “we started on the front foot.”
The outcome, however, will probably have a ripple effect this summer as Leeds becomes the first team since Sunderland (1997–1998) to reach 90 points without being promoted from England’s second division. Previous reports suggested Leeds would need to raise about £100 million in player sales in order to stay in the Championship.
The same article states that the club still owes other clubs considerable transfer fees for transactions done during their time as a Premier League club, and that “up to 10 could go and would only be replaced by free transfers and loan signings”.
Perhaps most importantly, failure to secure promotion has left Crysencio Summerville’s departure almost certain amid Premier League interest, with the Championship player of the season now “expected to leave” ahead of the new season. He is not the only attacker seeking the exit door either.
Gnonto pushing to leave Leeds again
Now, it has emerged that Wilfried Gnonto is once again pushing for a move away from the club this summer. The Italian was keen to leave last summer, but a deal to sell him could not be agreed and he ultimately stayed put, a decision that has seen him axed from the Italy national squad for the upcoming European Championships in Germany.
He has been in and out of favour this season, starting just 19 times for Farke and often used off the substitutes bench, though the Italian was part of the starting XI for Sunday’s Wembley disappointment.
According to MOT Leeds News, he is now prepared to permanently quit Elland Road this summer and is prioritizing a return to Italy, where he feels he can best display his skills for Azzurri coach Luciano Spalletti. These reports originate from Italy.
In fact, it is said that the forward, who still has three years remaining on his £20,000-per-week contract in Yorkshire, has already started to hunt for a new team.
Serie A is not exactly flush with cash these days, even with five teams competing in the Champions League next year, as Leeds discovered with the loans of Rasmus Kristensen and Diego Llorente last summer. It also appears doubtful that both players will be acquired by Roma following their loan terms.
Because of this, Farke’s team might find it difficult to obtain a significant price for the 20-year-old despite his exploits this season, particularly when compared to the sums they might have obtained from English suitors.
