Leeds United’s Wilfried Gnonto appears poised to bid farewell to Elland Road in January, with Serie A club Lazio expressing interest in signing him. According to reports from Tuttomercatoweb on November 4, former Chelsea coach Maurizio Sarri is keen to acquire the young attacker for the Stadio Olimpico. However, his price tag of £17.3 million is currently deemed too high for the Italian club.

Gnonto is eager to leave Elland Road, particularly after his limited opportunities under manager Daniel Farke, which could hinder his chances of representing his national team. The report questions whether Lazio will be willing to pay over £17 million in the winter transfer window.

It remains uncertain whether Lazio will make a move in January, as historically, Claudio Lotito, the club’s president, has not made significant investments during the winter market. The question remains whether he will make an exception in a Champions League season and heed Maurizio Sarri’s requests, as the coach values Gnonto. The report indicates that initial contacts have been made between the management teams.

Given the events of the summer, it may not come as a shock to Leeds fans that Gnonto reportedly wants to leave once again. Despite his efforts to secure a transfer at the start of the season, the club’s owners, the 49ers, made it clear that he was not for sale. It will be interesting to see if the club’s stance softens in the coming weeks.

Gnonto missed a significant portion of the season due to injury and now finds himself behind Crysencio Summerville, Daniel James, and even Jaidon Anthony in the pecking order on the wing, which could be the final straw for him. His recent performance against Stoke City was disappointing, as indicated by statistics from SofaScore. He had minimal involvement in the game, with only 38 touches in 70 minutes, failed to create a key pass, struggled with dribbles, ground duels, crosses, and shots on target, and frequently lost possession.

It appears that manager Daniel Farke may not be fully convinced by Gnonto’s commitment to helping Leeds United achieve their significant ambitions in the Championship for promotion. As a result, an inevitable departure for Gnonto seems to be drawing nearer.