{"id":416438,"date":"2025-09-11T18:22:16","date_gmt":"2025-09-11T18:22:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/416438\/"},"modified":"2025-09-11T18:22:16","modified_gmt":"2025-09-11T18:22:16","slug":"3-8m-leeds-united-star-puts-name-forward-to-cover-daniel-farkes-problem-area-at-elland-road","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/416438\/","title":{"rendered":"\u00a33.8m Leeds United star puts name forward to cover\u00a0Daniel Farke’s problem area at Elland Road"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

At first it was Igor Paixao, then it was Facundo Buonanotte and on deadline day, it was Harry Wilson. They were just three players Leeds United tried to sign, to bolster their attacking options.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Paixao\u2019s decision to join Marseille<\/a> was solved by Leeds<\/a>, in signing Noah Okafor. But Buonanotte\u2019s move to Chelsea, and then Wilson remaining at Fulham, was not sorted. Leeds lack an attacking midfielder, now.<\/p>\n

Better yet, an attacking midfielder able to take set-pieces. Alongside Buonanotte and Wilson, Leeds were also in the market for the likes of Bilal El Khannouss, Nico Gonzalez and Armenian ace Eduard Spertsyan.<\/p>\n

While Daniel Farke<\/a> is no longer playing with a no.10 and has reverted to a 4-3-3 formation with two 8\u2019s, instead of two 6\u2019s and a 10, the need for creation in attack is lacking. Willy Gnonto<\/a> can change that.<\/p>\n

\"HarryPhoto by Ben Roberts \u2013 Danehouse\/Getty ImagesWilly Gnonto puts name forward to solve Harry Wilson failure<\/p>\n

With Brenden Aaronson the only natural no.10, Leeds needed a whole lot better in that position if they were going to field a side that included an attacking midfielder. \u00a33.8m<\/a> Gnonto is the next-best option.<\/p>\n

The youngster has regularly played in the role for Italy\u2019s 21s and did so last season away at QPR last season, helping Leeds stage a comeback from 2-0 down. He told Adam Pope he is ready to play there.<\/p>\n

\"BrightonPhoto Sebastian Frej\/MB Media\/Getty Images<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t think I\u2019m the good person to answer but I have done it before. Even last season, not a lot but it is just about how the coach wants to play,\u201d Gnonto said when asked if he would play as a 10 on BBC RL<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cWherever the coach wants to play me, I\u2019m ready to play and help the team. It\u2019s not too much about position and roles, but we try whenever or wherever we play, we try to use our qualities,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n

MORE LEEDS UNITED STORIES<\/p>\n

The need for a no.10 is over at Leeds, but a set-piece specialist?<\/p>\n

Robbie Evans said that Leeds were looking to sign a right-sided winger who could also play as a 10, and of course, take set-pieces. Leeds have bought nine players over 6ft, but failed to sign a set-piece taker.<\/p>\n

\"LeedsPhoto by Mike Morese\/MI News\/NurPhoto via Getty Images<\/p>\n

Frustration was felt much more so when Leeds failed to get Wales star Wilson signed. Farke\u2019s side has all the tools to be an imposing threat from set-pieces, but no one to take them this season.<\/p>\n

At least, until January. Leeds remain interested in Wilson<\/a> and could make a January move, and a reunion with Eduard Spertsyan remains a possibility. Leeds will just have to make do until the winter.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"At first it was Igor Paixao, then it was Facundo Buonanotte and on deadline day, it was Harry…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":416439,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8814],"tags":[748,393,4884,1860,16,15,4515],"class_list":{"0":"post-416438","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-leeds","8":"tag-britain","9":"tag-england","10":"tag-great-britain","11":"tag-leeds","12":"tag-uk","13":"tag-united-kingdom","14":"tag-willy-gnonto"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@uk\/115187060134591227","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/416438","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=416438"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/416438\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/416439"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=416438"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=416438"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=416438"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}