Where there’s a Wilf there’s a way
NEW DEAL FOR GNONTO IS CLOSE
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Kick-off 7.45pm
DANIEL FARKE has hinted that Wilfried Gnonto is close to signing a new deal at Elland Road as Leeds seek to ward off interest in the Italy striker.
Gnonto (above) signed a five-year deal when he joined from FC Zurich in 2022 and Leeds are keen to tie him down with improved terms after Everton tried to land him in the summer.
Farke (below) claims nothing has been agreed yet but said the club want to keep their best players.
“We will speak about business once business is done but you can be assured that we want to keep our best players, our players with the highest potential,” said the Leeds boss.
Gnonto, 20, is struggling to make tonight’s home clash with Norwich because of a hip injury.
Farke twice won the Championship with Norwich but insists there is no room for sentiment.
“I’ll always be grateful to this club and it has a special place in my heart,” said
Farke, who led Leeds to a 3-2 win at Carrow
Road in October.
“It was more emotional last time because it was a first return to Carrow Road.
But this topic is done. This is a home game and we have to stretch our unbeaten run.
But it will be nice to see familiar faces.”
Farke is focused on stretching his side’s winning run to five games and maintaining the pace in the promotion chase.
“We’re greedy to win and don’t want to lose,” he said. “We’re highly motivated and every win is important.
“To finish high in May, you need a proper points tally and our current tally does not guarantee the top six.”
In-form Norwich are hoping to still be unbeaten in 2024 by the final whistle tonight but manager David Wagner said: “Nothing will be decided after this game.”
The Canaries, who are eighth, face fourth-placed Leeds with Wagner’s side 18 points adrift of Ipswich, who are second.
Wagner has weathered something of an injury crisis and the return of forward Josh Sargent and defender Ben Gibson has gone a long way to Norwich maintaining their five-game unbeaten run in all competitions.
The German said: “We have a competitive squad now. We have a lot of players healthy and pushing for the starting shirt. That helps you perform consistently, with the focus and concentration you need.
“But we have to make sure that we’re focused only on the next game. Nothing will be decided after the Leeds game, whatever the result is.” Norwich are 25-1 to win promotion to the Premier League while Leeds are 4-7.