Leeds United Keep or Sell: Farke’s James vs Gnonto Decision; Leeds, 2026

Key Points

• Leeds United have secured Premier League survival for another season under manager Daniel Farke, smashing his pre-season target of 10 wins and 38 points
• The club lost just four of their last 29 games across all competitions in the second half of the season, establishing themselves as one of the form sides in the division
• Manager Daniel Farke has conducted a comprehensive ‘keep or sell’ review of the entire first-team squad as Leeds plot bold summer moves
• Sky Sports pundit Alan Smith recommends selling both Wilfried Gnonto and Dan James, claiming neither has shown Premier League quality
• Both wingers have struggled for minutes under Farke’s mid-season switch to a 3-5-2 formation, which delivers width from wing-backs instead
• Farke has no plans to sell Dan James despite his injury struggles, with Football Insider understanding the manager is “fighting his corner”
• Wilfried Gnonto faces an increasingly likely exit, with SC Freiburg leading interest and five Serie A sides ready to hijack the deal
• Leeds would accept £15m-£20m for Gnonto, representing healthy profit on his £3.75m signing fee from FC Zurich in 2022
• With Jayden Bogle sidelined recently, Farke has turned to James, making him more likely to be kept over Gnonto
• Owners 49ers Enterprises are planning another astute summer window with budgets remaining tight but spending kept within means
• Leeds could have up to £100m-£120m transfer budget if they stay up, though financial analysts warn this doesn’t stretch far in the Premier League
• The Whites aim to improve on this season’s points tally (expected to reach 50 with a win at West Ham) and potentially challenge for European places

Leeds (The Leeds Times) May 21, 2025 – Leeds have secured Premier League football for another season under Daniel Farke, but with the club plotting some bold summer moves to take them to the next level, the club has run the rule over the entire first-team squad in a comprehensive ‘keep or sell’ review.

When Leeds United secured promotion back to the Premier League last season, the target this term was a simple one: stay among the elite and retain their status for another year.

Farke had set his players a pre-season target of 10 wins and 38 points – a figure they have absolutely smashed.

And while they’ve had to wait until three games from the end of the campaign to secure their seat at the top table of English football once again, the Whites have proved to be one of the form sides in the second half of the season, losing just four of their last 29 games across all competitions.

Like any football club the world over, though, the aim is to get better and improve on this season’s points tally, which will reach a half-century if they end the season with a win at seemingly-doomed West Ham on Sunday. And with another astute summer, the fans and ambitious owners, 49ers Enterprises, will be optimistic that Leeds could challenge for the European places next season.

However, budgets will remain tight, and spending will be kept within their means, though the club can free up finances and spending capacity by offloading any player no longer deemed worth keeping around.

Why Are Wilfried Gnonto and Dan James at the Centre of Leeds’ Transfer Dilemma?

As reported by TEAMtalk’s exclusive sources, Sky Sports pundit Alan Smith feels Leeds could look to cash in on both Gnonto and his fellow winger Dan James, with neither quite showing Premier League quality and with both players victims of Farke’s decision to revert to a 3-5-2 formation. Smith stated:

“I don’t think they’re Premier League quality, could do well in the Championship, but have struggled. And I think also the wing-back system has maybe worked against them. So there hasn’t really been a spot for them. But when they have had a chance, they’ve underwhelmed, really. So it might be that they leave Elland Road in the summer”.

Gnonto has shown flashes of brilliance during his time at Leeds, but has struggled for consistent starts this season, essentially falling victim to Farke’s mid-season switch to a 3-5-2 formation, which delivered their width from wing-backs.

However, Gnonto has still played his part when called upon and has five goal contributions this season from just 846 minutes of action. His pace, technical ability, and eye for goal have long marked him out as a player with significant potential.

Dan James faces an uncertain future at Leeds United, with his contract running until the summer of 2029, but given his struggles on the sidelines, it has been suggested that he could be on his way out. However, Football Insider understands that while Leeds are concerned by James’ latest injury, there are no plans to offload him this summer, and Farke’s latest quotes would suggest that the manager is fighting his corner.

As reported by Harri Burton of Football Insider, Farke clearly doesn’t want that to happen to his speedy winger, and he’ll do anything in his power to make sure he’s not a player sold this summer.

Which Winger Will Farke Keep as Leeds Face a Summer Selection Choice?

Farke has also got Dan James in reserve and in a similar situation to that of Gnonto in that he’s a winger who has seen his minutes reduced this season. However, with Jayden Bogle sidelined recently, it is James that Farke has turned to and the Wales star will more likely be kept on of the pair this summer.

LEEDS UNITED EXPERT GRAHAM SMYTH SAID on the Inside Elland Road podcast:

“I think Gnonto could be important. I think Willy Gnonto could be massive (in the remaining Premier League games), and it’s because he’s capable of coming up with something. He’s capable of looking at compact defence and mixing it up, jinking inside and unleashing an absolute cannon of a shot. I like the way he plays little quick one-twos to get into the area, tries to get to the byline, and I like the fact that he can look up and curl in a peach of a ball”.

Despite this advocacy, Gnonto now finds himself in familiar space of potential and doubt, following reports linking him to a transfer to Freiburg.

As reported by The Yorkshire Post, discussions have commenced between Leeds United and the Bundesliga club regarding a potential summer transfer. Sky Germany’s Florian Plettenberg noted that Freiburg is “pushing to sign Wilfried Gnonto,” adding

“Conversations between the clubs and his representatives have begun. Leeds is open to a sale or a loan with a future purchase obligation. The negotiations are challenging, but Freiburg has been pursuing this for several weeks”.

What Transfer Interest Is Gnonto Attracting and What Price Will Leeds Accept?

Popular Leeds star Willy Gnonto looks to be nearing the end of his Elland Road career after sources revealed five Italian sides were considering a move to hijack Freiburg’s planned transfer, with Daniel Farke’s side setting a relatively modest asking price to aid their own summer strengthening plans.

Gnonto joined the West Yorkshire side in a bargain £3.75m (€5m, $6m) fee from FC Zurich in September 2022, going on to play a part in 40 G/A (23 scored, 17 assists) in his 146 appearances for Leeds so far.

Indeed, as reported by Sky Germany over the weekend and now confirmed by TEAMtalk sources, the 13-times capped Italy international is attracting serious interest from Bundesliga side SC Freiburg, with talks already underway. However, they are far from his only suitors, and sources understand that Serie A sides are also exploring a potential summer move ahead of what they describe as the “many exit options” open to the 22-year-old.

While an asking price has not been disclosed by sources, it’s been reported that Leeds would accept a fee in the region of £15m to £20m (up to €23m, $27m) for Gnonto.

Achieving their asking price could well result in a sale, and Leeds will know that interest in his homeland could yet see the price driven up.

Interest in Gnonto is not limited to Germany, with Serie A clubs including Juventus, Inter Milan, AC Milan, Napoli, and Roma having scouted the forward at various points this season, reflecting his desire for a return to his homeland.

Whether they follow up initial interest with a concrete bid remains to be seen, though, and they will need to act quickly if they are to beat Freiburg to the punch.

How Will Leeds’ Financial Position Shape Summer Transfer Decisions?

BBC Radio Leeds’ Adam Pope says club owners 49ers Enterprises willSanction sales this summer in order to accelerate their plans to sign new players.

This commentary follows a report featuring football finance analyst Kieran Maguire, which indicated that Leeds could potentially have a transfer budget of £100 million. Pope remarked on the podcast “Don’t Go To Bed Just Yet”:

“He assessed the spending capabilities of all Premier League clubs and suggested that Leeds might be eyeing a £100 million expenditure at the upper tier. However, this amount doesn’t stretch very far, especially considering Leeds’ two-year stint in the Championship. This year, within the three-year financial cycle, they can afford to incur losses up to £61 million. £100 million doesn’t seem like a substantial sum, so they must be resourceful and wise in their approach”.

It’s claimed that survival would see Farke be granted another £100million to spend in the summer window, with that same sum having been dished out on new signings during the window directly after promotion to the top flight. Sources have outlined that while Leeds are open to the possibility of handing Anton Stach a new and improved deal, the 49ers Enterprises do have a more pressing issue to address with regards to one of his teammates.

For Leeds, any departure of Gnonto would represent a healthy profit on their initial investment, but losing a talent like Gnonto would require careful reinvestment to maintain momentum. Farke and the board must weigh sporting needs against financial opportunities, but are aware they can use the funds gained to help them in the market this summer.

Background: The Development of Leeds United’s ‘Keep or Sell’ Review and Tactical Formation Change

The ‘keep or sell’ review comes as Leeds United have secured Premier League survival under Daniel Farke after a challenging season that saw the club navigate relegation concerns until three games from the end. The tactical shift to a 3-5-2 formation proved decisive in securing survival, with Farke switching to a back three after half-time against Manchester City, resulting in instant improvement.

“We’re always prepared to play in a 3-5-2, it would be too easy to reduce it to this,”

Farke told the YEP after the Manchester City match.

“If the answer to win here was just to play 3-5-2 then many teams would win here. It’s not that simple. It’s about the principles, how you want to play against the ball. The execution was now how we planned during the whole week. The structure gave us more clarity, but in possession we still had one striker and one a bit more flexible”.

This formation change, implemented after defeat to Villa, meant both wingers Dan James and Wilfried Gnonto were withdrawn as Jaka Bijol and Dominic Calvert-Lewin were introduced.

The 5-3-2, and an incredibly direct one, was how Leeds set up, with Farke mapping out around 27 wins (plus multiple draws) to be the benchmark for promotion in the Championship, which worked out at roughly 92 points.

The owners 49ers Enterprises have been ambitious in their approach, with projections showing Leeds’ turnover at £262m for 2025-26 and a summer fund of £120m. However, football finance analysts warn that even £100m doesn’t stretch far in the Premier League, particularly after Leeds’ two-year stint in the Championship.

Prediction: How This Development Will Affect Leeds United Fans and the club’s European Ambitions

The decision to potentially sell Gnonto while keeping James will directly affect Leeds United fans’ expectations for next season’s Premier League campaign and any potential European challenge. If Leeds sell Gnonto for £15m-£20m and reinvest wisely, the club could strengthen their midfield depth, which remains a pressing issue according to 49ers Enterprises.

For Leeds fans hoping to see the club challenge for European places next season, the summer window will be crucial. The Whites proved they are one of the form sides in the second half of the season, losing just four of their last 29 games across all competitions, which gives supporters reason to be optimistic. However, budgets will remain tight, and spending will be kept within means, meaning every transfer must be carefully calculated.

Leeds United fans should expect the club to free up finances by offloading players no longer deemed worth keeping, with Gnonto’s increasingly likely exit representing a healthy profit that can be reinvested. The aim is to improve on this season’s points tally, which will reach 50 if they win at West Ham, and ambitious owners will want the squad to challenge for European places.