A lot has changed at Leeds United over the last couple of years.
The manager, the ownership, the division in which they ply their football, alongside numerous alteraations in the dressing room.
But one thing remains as consistent as ever. And those is the reports linking Willy Gnonto with a transfer away from Elland Road.
It has been a year-and-a-half since Everton failed with three bids to take the Italy international to Goodison Park. According to reports, The Toffees returned with a £23 million offer during the summer of 2024, only to be told in no uncertain terms that Gnonto was going nowhere.
Yet, Everton are still refusing to take ‘no’ for an answer.
Carlton Palmer predicts Willy Gnonto could leave Leeds United
New claims coming out this month say that David Moyes’ resurgent Premier League outfit are still keen on Wilfried Gnonto.
They are not the only ones. The one-time Inter Milan prospect has admirers in Italy, Spain and Saudi Arabia too, with Leeds allegedly valuing Gnonto at an eye-watering £50 million.
In an ideal world, Leeds would prefer to keep the deepest squad in England’s second tier together. But while the formidable strength in depth at Daniel Farke’s disposal is obviously a good thing as far as the head coach is concerned, Gnonto might not be overly thrilled with his rotation role.
The 21-year-old Italy international has not started any of Leeds’ last nine Championship games. In fact, he hasn’t appeared on Farke’s teamsheet in 2025 in league action.
And, with Leeds praying for a goal – preferably two – during the stunning comeback win over Sunderland on Monday, Gnonto was left glued to the substitute’s bench.
As such, former Leeds midfielder Carlton Palmer is predicting another window of much speculation regarding Gnonto’s future. Especially if, as expected, the Tottenham Hotspur loanee Manor Solomon secures himself a permanent contract in West Yorkshire.
“Leeds United are keen on signing Manor Solomon,” Palmer tells Football League World. “He has done really well.
“He has done so well that Willy Gnonto is playing a cameo role behind the likes of Solomon and Dan James. There may well be a situation where Gnonto has to leave the football club and, with Financial Fair Play in mind, he could certainly depart.
“His lack of starts leaves the option for him to leave in the summer.”
Palmer thinks Leeds will keep Tottenham loanee Manor Solomon
By his own admission, Gnonto was not exactly thrilled with how the 2023/24 season panned out for him from a personal perspective.
With Farke putting his faith in Largie Ramazani on Monday night against Sunderland, it can be argued now that this pocket rocket of a footballer is now the club’s fourth-choice winger.
In meantime, Manor Solomon has opened the door to staying at Leeds United, presuming top-flight football returns to West Yorkshire in the coming months.
“[Solomon] is having a fine season for Leeds, and I think he would be a good bit of business,” adds Palmer, who played over 100 matches for The Whites between 1994 and 1997.
“Gnonto is a talented player and, in an ideal world, you would keep both players. But it looks as if it will be one or the other.
“The way it is at the moment, Daniel Farke would be looking at Solomon. I think it is something they are going to explore in the summer, but they have to get promoted back to the Premier League to have a chance of making that a reality.”
‘He could depart’: Carlton Palmer predicts £50m-rated star may leave Leeds United – thanks to Manor Solomon
