Arsenal and Manchester City are ready to fight it out for teenage star Wilfried Gnonto this summer, despite the winger having only arrived at Elland Road 12 months earlier, according to reports.
Gnonto arrived in Yorkshire on deadline day in 2022 for just 4.5m euros, and after a slow start to his career under Jesse Marsch, he has burst onto the scene as he looks to help Leeds avoid relegation.
The Italian, who is already a fully-fledged international for the reigning European Champions, has popped up with two goals and three assists in the Premier League to date, as well as a further two strikes in the FA Cup.
JACK HARRISON GAVE LEEDS THE LEAD!!!
WILFRIED GNONTO 🇮🇹(2003) WITH A SUPERB PLAY FOR THE ASSIST!!!pic.twitter.com/FdGDqx1prl— Football Report (@FootballReprt) March 19, 2023
And, as per Italian outlet Gazzetta della Italia, his performances have caught the eye both of Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City and also Premier League leaders Arsenal, both of whom are thought to be on the hunt for more firepower in wide areas this summer.
Meanwhile, the Daily Express claim that ‘the Italian international is almost certain to leave the Whites if they are relegated from the Premier League’, but that any sale will net the club a minimum of £31m, a ten-fold profit on their initial outlay.
Though deployed on the left wing for Leeds, Gnonto has also played on the right and as a striker for the Italian national team, and Roberto Mancini has offered a glowing endorsement of his talents.
With Gnonto’s help, Leeds picked up a vital 4-2 win over Wolves ahead of the international break to pull themselves out of the relegation zone and up to 14th, two points clear of the drop zone.
He will have the perfect opportunity to wow one of his suitors immediately after the international break, when his side travel to the Emirates Stadium to take on Arsenal.
