Leeds United might have lost Crysencio Summerville and Georginio Rutter but, still, one attacker with genuine Premier League quality in his boots remains.
It speaks volumes about the fearsome attacking depth at Daniel Farke’s disposal that Wilfried Gnonto found himself in and out of the starting XI last term.
Now, with Rutter following Summerville to the Premier League, Gnonto suddenly finds himself catapulted from occasional supersub to talisman, Leeds United’s promotion hopes resting on his shoulders.
Fortunately, Gnonto has Dan James to ease the burden.
After a career-best goals tally last term, James got off the mark for 2024/25 with the decider in Friday’s 2-0 Yorkshire derby victory over Sheffield Wednesday. Brenden Aaronson’s return from Union Berlin – two in two now for the oft-maligned American – should also go some way to offsetting the loss of Rutter to Brighton.
Leeds United bring in Largie Ramazani from Almeria
Leeds’ rebuilding project continued on Thursday, meanwhile, with the signing of Largie Ramazani following Almeria’s relegation from Spain’s top flight.
Ramazani joins for £10 million.
The jet-heeled Belgian, once of Manchester United’s academy, is the man given the highly difficult task of replicating Championship’s Player of the Year Summerville on the left-hand side.
With Almeria looking to bounce back at the first time of asking, the departure of Ramazani is a blow. But one the club will have been expecting, with Leeds’ new number 17 one of the few who looked the part amongst La Liga’s best.
“It has been a very positive outcome for both parties,” Almeria coach Rubi tells Diario de Almeria following the 23-year-old’s departure. “We saw that he had very good qualities.
“When we arrived, he was in the reserve team and had no continuity. He had an extraordinary first season. He also had his moments La Liga.
“Now, he is a more established player. If we take into account that his contract is up in a year, it is a very positive sale on an economic level.
“He is a great professional and I wish him the best.”
Daniel Farke hails Wilfried Gnonto after Sheffield Wednesday win
Ramazani scored four times and set up four more in his final season at Almeria. He also found the net twice against Real Madrid in Spain’s first division.
Farke has confirmed that Ramazani will begin training with the rest of Leeds’ squad in the coming days, with a debut on the cards against Hull City on August 31st.
“Largie will get involved next week,” Farke tells Leeds Live. “We need a few signings to be more ambitious. We have a handful of players without more than 20 players in the squad.”
Leeds, HITC understands, showed an interest in Eredivisie duo Calvin Stengs and Carlos Forbs before turning to Ramazani, while Burnley winger Manuel Benson has held talks over a switch to Elland Road.
In what feels like a real coup, Leeds are now closing in on a deal that will see Manor Solomon – previously a Champions League regular – arrive on loan from Tottenham Hotspur, HITC have been told.
Though with Gnonto’s embers burning and threatening to burst into white hot flames, neither Solomon nor Ramazani can be guaranteed a place in Farke’s XI from the off.
“We have worked a lot with Willy because we want him to be more flexible with his movements,” Farke said after his sparkling showing against Sheffield Wednesday.
“We work a lot with him and show him many things. At times, he was unplayable. He can be a bit smarter but it was a really good performance and what we expect from him.”
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