---
title: "Leeds: Alex McLeish reacts to Wilfried Gnonto signing"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/leeds-alex-mcleish-reacts-to-wilfried-gnonto-signing/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Charlie Smith"
section: "Leeds United News"
published: "2022-09-04T09:47:22Z"
modified: "2022-09-04T09:47:22Z"
---

# Leeds: Alex McLeish reacts to Wilfried Gnonto signing

**Former [Premier League](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/premier-league-news/) manager Alex McLeish has hailed [Leeds United](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/leeds-united-news/)’s late swoop for young forward Wilfried Gnonto, as per [Football Insider](https://www.footballinsider247.com/expert-hails-brilliant-leeds-united-deal-after-sources-3m-willy-gnonto-reveal/).**

### The Lowdown: Summer business

The Whites spent and received [close to £100m](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/leeds-united/transfers/verein/399) this summer in what was a busy few months for Andrea Radrizzani and Victor Orta.

Leeds brought in [six](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/leeds-united/transfers/verein/399) players over the age of 20, while also signing teenagers [Darko Gyabi](https://www.leedsunited.com/news/team-news/30027/darko-gyabi-completes-leeds-united-transfer), [Sonny Perkins](https://www.leedsunited.com/news/team-news/30111/sonny-perkins-signs-for-leeds-united) and [Gnonto](https://www.leedsunited.com/news/team-news/30323/leeds-united-complete-deadline-day-deal-for-wilfried-gnonto). The Italy international was the final addition of the summer late on deadline day after the Yorkshire club failed with moves for [Cody Gakpo](https://www.google.ie/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwiEsaDs7Pr5AhXiQUEAHZE2AUcQFnoECA8QAQ&url=https%3A%2F%2Ftheathletic.com%2F3556650%2F2022%2F09%2F01%2Fcody-gakpo-leeds-southampton%2F&usg=AOvVaw2PwDl7rcQgtgalSturl9rF) and [Bamba Dieng](https://www.google.ie/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwjTyZr17Pr5AhXlSUEAHY2CCVIQFnoECAoQAQ&url=https%3A%2F%2Ftalksport.com%2Ffootball%2F1184730%2Fleeds-bamba-dieng-transfer-medical-wilfed-gnonto-andrea-radrizzani%2F&usg=AOvVaw0oWaBiqa6IK_lyx63b_dql) earlier in the day.

### The Latest: McLeish’s comments

McLeish, who contributes for [Sky Sports](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iabwu28AAQs), was talking to [Football Insider](https://www.footballinsider247.com/expert-hails-brilliant-leeds-united-deal-after-sources-3m-willy-gnonto-reveal/) about Leeds’ late move for Gnonto. He hailed the club for spending big this summer and said that a late striker signing was ‘brilliant’.

The former Aston Villa manager stated:

> “Leeds have had this issue for a while now.
>
> “I think a striker was always going to arrive, it was just a matter of who. Bamford is an injury concern but Rodrigo has been scoring the goals now he has been moved higher up the pitch.
>
> “Gelhardt is a talent but maybe not ready to carry the burden of leading the line. Leeds have done remarkably well this summer.
>
> “They have gone out and spent which is something they didn’t do last season. A striker signing was needed so it’s brilliant they got that done.”

\[freshpress-poll id=”408362″\]

### The Verdict: Still short?

Leeds were on course for a solid transfer window at the end of July with the majority of their business already done, but you could say that they left it too late to bring in a new senior forward and had to accelerate their interest in Gnonto as a result.

A new left-back could also have been of use due to a [lack of options](https://www.google.ie/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwjOpYis7fr5AhVRQEEAHdCwDf0QFnoECAwQAQ&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.transfermarkt.co.uk%2Fleeds-united%2Fkader%2Fverein%2F399&usg=AOvVaw2reCUAKSpy9tFjuspWuaCS) and Junior Firpo’s [injury problems](https://www.google.ie/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwjx6vWl7fr5AhUHS0EAHSUADGMQFnoECAQQAQ&url=https%3A%2F%2Ftheathletic.com%2Fnews%2Fjunior-firpo-injury-leeds%2F9bwjVKD0LPqZ%2F&usg=AOvVaw2CoU-MFCEcOr6taxINuqn6), so it will be interesting to see how the next few months play out before the Whites can strengthen their squad again in January.