Chief Executive Angus Kinnear has revealed months of groundwork allowed Leeds United to accelerate a move for Wilfried Gnonto. Confirmation of Gnonto’s arrival came after the 11pm cut-off on deadline day after a chaotic 24 hours of transfer activity at Elland Road.
After a failed pursuit of PSV’s Cody Gakpo, Leeds thought they had agreed a deal for Marseille striker Bamba Dieng. However, he opted against a move to the Whites in favour of Ligue 1 side Nice, where he eventually failed a medical anyway.
That prompted Leeds into bringing forward plans to sign FC Zurich’s Gnonto, with a deal having been able to be completed quickly as the early legwork of the deal had already been done. Writing in his pre-Aston Villa programme notes, Kinnear explained some of the details behind his signing.
