Contracts will be on the agenda at Leeds United with the end of the season now fast approaching.
Including out-on-loan duo Lewis Bate and Luke Ayling, Leeds have six players with deals expiring in the summer in Jamie Shackleton, Liam Cooper, Stuart Dallas and Sam Byram.
For Bate, Ayling, Cooper and Dallas, it looks like time is all but up on their Leeds careers, but there is less certainty around what will happen with Byram and Shackleton. Given their injuries, it wouldn’t be a surprise if they left, too.
However, over the last couple of months, Leeds have been getting to work on handing some of their most talented youngsters new long-term deals, with Archie Gray and Mateo Joseph falling under that category.
Willy Gnonto had reported to be next in line, but things have gone quiet over the last few weeks on that front, despite claims it was close.
Now, LeedsUnited.News have spoken to transfer expert Graeme Bailey for an update on Gnonto’s situation, who stated that terms ‘were virtually agreed’ and a new deal does look likely.
Graeme Bailey says Summerville’s close mate Gnonto could sign new Leeds deal soon
He said: “Yeah it was close I was told. Terms were virtually agreed with him. At the time Leeds didn’t think he was going anywhere. I think they will just sit down and assess in the summer again. It is all well and good agreeing terms with the reps and stuff, but the player has to sign it as well.
“It helps now that he is looking a lot happier under Daniel Farke and where Leeds are going, so I think Leeds back in the Premier League with him, he’s good friends with Summerville, there is every chance if you go up he signs a new deal.”
Gnonto new deal would be just reward for recent form
Around the time a new deal was rumoured, Gnonto had really been struggling for form with regular starts having been hard to come by due to the form of Dan James and Summerville.
However, injury to James left the door ajar for the 20-year-old and it is fair to say he has smashed right through it, with six goals in his last nine league appearances.
Gnonto had been looking like he was still struggling from the events of the summer but they now look very much behind him, and it is good to see him playing with confidence again.
A new deal would certainly be just reward for how he has fought back at Leeds and hopefully it will arrive soon, to stave off any attention he might be drawing from elsewhere.