Leeds United finally got a signing over the line on transfer deadline day.
Shortly after midnight on Friday morning, over an hour after the summer window officially closed, the Whites announced that they had successfully captured the addition of Wilfried Gnonto.
The 18-year-old has joined Leeds on a permanent basis from FC Zurich.
But will he be available for a Premier League debut at home to Brentford today? According to Phil Hay, nope.
The Athletic journalist, who exclusively covers the Elland Road outfit, has revealed that Gnonto will not be eligible for selection after only travelling to the city yesterday.
He told The Athletic: “Leeds got an attacking signing in the end; not Cody Gakpo, not Bamba Dieng but Wilfried Gnonto, the 18-year-old Italy international from FC Zurich. He only flew into England yesterday so he won’t be involved in the squad at Brentford and it remains to be seen how quickly Jesse Marsch pushes him into first-team contention.”
Hay also mentions Cody Gakpo and Bamba Dieng, two other players heavily linked with a late transfer to Jesse Marsch’s side on deadline day.
Gnonto’s arrival is a success, but he’s still so young and it’s possible that Marsch and Victor Orta wanted him and a more senior attacker to join United late in the window.
However, it’s still been a very good start to the season for a Leeds side that hammered Chelsea 3-0 a couple of weeks ago and they’ll be favourites to see off the Bees in West Yorkshire today, despite Gnonto not being available.
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