Leeds United signing Wilfried Gnonto will be given time to settle at Elland Road, says transfer insider Dean Jones. The striker joined the Yorkshire club from FC Zurich on deadline day in a boost to Jesse Marsch, but Jones is not expecting him to make an immediate impact.
Marsch felt that Leeds needed to bring in a new No.9, something he spoke about after Dan James’ loan move to Fulham, which helped to facilitate Gnonto’s arrival. “He [James] always gives everything to the group, but we were trying to work out how to get the balance right,” the American told the BBC. “Dan was garnering the most interest and doing this was the only way to create flexibility to get in the striker we felt we needed.” Patrick Bamford spent a lot of time on the sidelines last season, while Rodrigo is currently out injured, so Marsch will be pleased that Gnonto was bought.
Jones has told GIVEMESPORT that Leeds’ plan is to introduce Gnonto to Premier League football slowly, though Rodrigo now being unavailable could perhaps complicate that.
Speaking to GMS, the journalist said: “He was really seen as a player that would be given time to adapt, and there’s no panic for him to break through in a matter of weeks. “I was told when they signed him that he would be carefully managed so that when he comes into the team and onto the scene, he could make an impact.