Leeds United have their in-house Rutter replacement under Daniel Farke's nose: View | OneFootball

Could Willy Gnonto replace Georginio Rutter for Daniel Farke at Leeds United?

Leeds United sold Georginio Rutter to Brighton and Hove Albion this summer but Willy Gnonto could be the answer to Daniel Farke's problem in the central role behind the striker in 2024/25.

David Ornstein of The Athletic revealed that Rutter had a £40 million release clause in his contract this summer, which Brighton eventually activated two games into Leeds' season. There's no doubt that the Frenchman was one of Leeds' best players and one of the Championship's best creators, and that they will be worse off without him after failing to recruit an established specialist in the playmaker role.

Leeds wanted to build around him and the club even entered talks to plead with Rutter to remain, but it was always likely to be the case that he would snub a contract offer with Leeds and sign for Brighton, per Alex Crook. However, despite the subsequent departures after missing out on promotion last season, there is an air of optimism surrounding Leeds as they enter the new season.

Even though they would have been hoping to retain Rutter for another season after their chief creator registered 18 assists last season, with the 22-year-old regularly proving to be a difference-maker and match-winner, and often was for Farke.

How Leeds United replace Georginio Rutter

In fairness to Farke, the German found a way to utilise Rutter and get the best out of him. Rutter works best with space to turn into to attack the box, or is good at running in the channels. He is a very direct dribbler, and not a hold-up striker, as he had been used during his first five months with the club in the top-flight.

Last season, he was deployed as a central attacking midfielder in a 4-2-3-1 for the most part with the Whites. However, many believe his best work comes when he has the freedom to express himself and move from out-to-in to attack the box. It appears Brighton plan to play him from the right-hand side, which is where his skill-set is perhaps served best.

Leeds have a similar issue this season, with no natural No.10 in their ranks, but Rutter went from strength-to-strength under Farke in the Championship in a role that suited him far better, even if it was not his most optimum usage.

Despite eyeing big-money deals with £13 million bids for the likes of Gus Hamer, and SC Freiburg's Roland Sallai also looked at after reportedly pushing hard to land the Hungarian in a £10 million deadline day deal, Leeds came up short in securing a similar profile of attacking midfielder.

Despite failing to add a natural playmaker, the Whites have one of the strongest attacks in the league yet again. They will instead be looking in-house to source that profile and replacement. The likes of Rutter, Jaidon Anthony, and Summerville have essentially been replaced in the first-team by Manor Solomon, Largie Ramazani, and the return of Brenden Aaronson from loan.

However, could the answer be a new role for Willy Gnonto? Leeds may have seen Rutter and Crysencio Summerville exit the club, but another mercurial talent within Leeds' ranks remained in the 20-year-old Italian.

Willy Gnonto to become Leeds' star man in 2024/25

Gnonto has seen some of his youngest and highest potential teammates depart Leeds in recent months, but he has remained at Elland Road beyond the transfer deadline and signed a new contract to tie him down to 2028, which may be a signal of intent to both Gnonto and the rest of the division for him to play a starring role this season.

It was the second squad exodus in as many summers at Leeds for Farke, with the likes of Archie Gray, Summerville, and Rutter all heading to the Premier League for significant sums. Crucially, the deal to tie Gnonto down in the wake of those departures does not include a release clause.

After Leeds were stung by various loan clauses and exit/release clauses in the last few years, they won’t suffer the same way with Gnonto, as it was announced recently that he had put pen to paper on an extension, and Fabrizio Romano revealed that it doesn’t contain a release clause.

Despite the additions of Ramazani and Solomon, there remains plenty of responsibility for Gnonto to step up and help to ensure Leeds have the required attacking firepower this season. Without a central attacking midfielder, could that be his latest role? He was initially signed as a winger, predominantly occupying the left; but with Summerville showing his best there last season, Gnonto had to settle for the right-wing more often than not.

He is arguably at his best when he can roam free and attack the box, and has shown signs of inverting more this season, having been utilised off both flanks already. The supporting cast in Farke's attack is not short of options and quality for the rest of the season, but Gnonto can expect an increased volume of starts on either side as one of the players capable of the required attacking thrust.

A restructuring of Leeds' forward line could see the diminutive winger switch to the opposite flank on a regular basis, with both Ramazani and Dan James comfortable at attacking the box from the right. However, Solomon looks likely to challenge for that starting berth down the left, which could see Gnonto take up Rutter's position centrally with a free role.

The Italian didn’t quite hit the same heights last year as Rutter or Summerville, but he still contributed eight goals and two assists from 36 regular league appearances ina role which was suboptimal for his talents, whilst he is a player with as much potential as the former pair as well.

Farke and Leeds fans alike will hope that the goal against Portsmouth on opening day is just the start of what is to come this term. However, many are now speculating as to where he will be deployed. Players with Gnonto's attacking arsenal, who can turn out of pressure quickly due to superior agility and balance, and that have create plenty of passing angles for their teammates, shouldn't be spending all of their time out on the sideline.

An argument could be made that you put him inside, with bodies around him, and watch the magic happen. It would not be shoehorning him into something he is uncomfortable with or incapable of, as Gnonto has played centrally in his career already, with FC Zürich deploying him in numerous attacking roles. He predominantly operated as the second-striker in a front two behind a player who will pin the opposition and run the channels — much like Mateo Joseph.

Flashes of brilliance were seen last season, as the 20-year-old Italian's ability one-vs-one, flair, and dynamic with other forwards can be crucial in any game when one moment of inspiration can make you a match-winner. He even recently played two further games in a central role during the international break, showcasing his ability to be extremely effective there.

The latter came in a 3-0 win over Norway's U-21 side and Gnonto grabbed a terrific assist after some quick interplay around their box, before slipping Tommaso Baldanzi through on goal to finish. It highlighted that it is something Farke should consider.

Someone like Aaronson is a more specialist attacking midfielder, but he lacks the guile in possession and the creative passing against a packed box or with lots of traffic in his way. This is an environment Gnonto can thrive in, as he is more than happy to receive and play in tight spaces.

They will need him to exert that X-Factor a bit more frequently this season, but having such exciting dribbling ability and ball-striking will be enough to settle tight games this season in the Championship, but quick intricate passing and through-balls will also be something that creates moments for Leeds this season, too.

The young Italian international can expect to be one of the most feared attacking players in the division from a central role, should Farke choose to operate in that way, with Solomon, Ramazani, and Dan James the other options to flank him on either side.

He was already one of Leeds' best players prior to major summer exits, but can cement himself as their outstanding attacking player this season, which could be in a brand-new role at Leeds this year.