Gnonto set for Serie A return on loan
Leeds United have reached a verbal agreement to allow forward Willy Gnonto, 22, to join Fiorentina on a season-long loan with a buy option. As first reported by Fabrizio Romano, the deal is advanced, with a medical examination scheduled for Tuesday. Reports indicate that the Serie A side has agreed to cover 100 per cent of the player's salary for the duration of the loan.
Gnonto, who joined Leeds from FC Zurich in September 2022 for approximately £3.9m, has seen his opportunities limited under Daniel Farke. The manager's tactical shift to a 3-4-2-1 formation has prioritised wing-backs over traditional wide forwards, leaving the Italian international on the periphery of the starting XI. While the departure is imminent, journalist Ben Jacobs reports that Leeds officials will not formally sanction the exit until a replacement attacker is secured.
The hunt for a replacement
In a bid to maintain attacking depth, Leeds have identified Chelsea forward Mykhailo Mudryk, 25, as a primary target for a potential loan move. Chelsea acquired the Ukrainian winger in January 2023 for a total package valued at £62m, but his development has stalled, prompting the London club to consider temporary exits to regain form.
Despite the interest, the deal is far from guaranteed. Chelsea’s preferred strategy for Mudryk involves sending him to a partner club, such as Strasbourg, where his playing minutes could be more strictly managed and guaranteed compared to a move to Elland Road. For Leeds, the potential acquisition represents a high-stakes manoeuvre during a compressed window; failing to secure an alternative before sanctioning Gnonto’s departure could leave the squad thin during a critical stretch of the season. This mid-window churn is increasingly common among Championship and high-end second-tier clubs seeking to balance FFP compliance with the need for immediate, high-ceiling output.
