Leeds United forward Willy Gnonto is reportedly subject to transfer interest from Lazio ahead of January, but their offer is claimed to be coming as a loan-to-buy.
Daniel Farke’s Leeds side have put themselves in with a strong chance of promotion this season despite the breathtaking form of the two sides above them at the moment.
January can go one to two ways when you’re in a promotion race, and for Leeds, they will know that the right business could tip them towards finishing in the top two.
Willy Gnonto latest: Will he leave in January?
The latest report linking Willy Gnonto with a move away comes from his native Italy, with Calcio Style claiming that the winger would want to leave in the new year.
Not only that, but they share that Serie A side Lazio are keen on signing him in January, but are not going to make a permanent bid.
It is said that Lazio would be submitting a loan approach, with an option-to-buy €15million (£13.1m) included in the deal so that they can buy him in the summer.
Should Leeds sell Gnonto in January?
Yes
No
No chance Leeds accept this
There are two fundamentally baffling parts of this proposed deal that make no sense from Leeds’ perspective.
Firstly, if Leeds are to let the Italian go in the January window, they would not be willing to let him go without getting a hefty sum straight away, to reinvest in a sufficient replacement.
Secondly, if they do sanction a loan-to-buy in order to help Gnonto get his form back to the point where he’s in the Italy squad for Euro 2024, why would Leeds accept such a low buy option?
Should Lazio want Gnonto after this loan, it’s very clear that he’s improved his form since the start of the season, at the time when the Whites were turning their nose up at £25million.
There is no part of this offer that is even worth Leeds’ time to answer the phone to Lazio, and the fact that this would be their plan indicates they stand no chance of matching what Leeds would demand.