Leeds: Marsch now gets 'positive sign' over £5m star at Elland Road

Leeds United manager Jesse Marsch will have benefited from seeing new signing Wilfried Gnonto in action for Italy under Roberto Mancini’s guidance during the international break, according to journalist Dean Jones.

Marsch was handed just shy of £100 million to spend on new recruits this summer, with Gnonto one of eight new faces to arrive at Elland Road.

Gnonto made the move to Leeds in the dying moments of the latest transfer window, sealing a £5 million switch from FC Zurich and signing a five-year deal.

Marsch admitted that the final decision to sign him this year was made late in the day, revealing that the initial plan was to keep monitoring the 18-year-old – who has previously been described as a ‘wild’ player – ahead of future windows.

The former Inter Milan star was called up to Mancini’s Italy squad for their latest round of Nations League clashes, taking his appearance count for the Azzurri to six caps.

Gnonto came off the bench in the 1-0 triumph over England at San Siro before being handed a start as they sealed their place at the top of the group with victory over Hungary.

Jones believes that Marsch will be able to benefit from having seen how Mancini decided to use Gnonto during international duty.

The journalist adds that the fact Leeds’ latest recruit is already a fixture in a national side at such a young age can only be a good thing for the club.

Jones told GIVEMESPORT: “It’s a positive sign. I think it would be good for Jesse Marsch to see how another manager uses him in a top team as well so I think that’s a really promising moment.”

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When Gnonto left Inter Milan, he did so having failed to break into the first team but