Pundit predicted in June that the 20-year-old may be highly crucial at Leeds this season, and now he is

Much of last summer was spent speculating who would be coming and going at Leeds United.

Following relegation from the Premier League, the club underwent extensive restructuring from top to bottom, beginning with 49ers Enterprises acquiring full ownership of the club.

Following Daniel Farke‘s arrival, the focus shifted to a squad overhaul, with several first-team players leaving on loan or permanently.

However, the 49ers made it obvious that they wanted to construct a squad around a select few players, and while this did not happen for Tyler Adams and Jack Harrison, they were able to maintain others.

Of the players drawing big money attention, Leeds kept Georginio Rutter, Crysencio Summerville, and Willy Gnonto, which helped create the groundwork for the promotion campaign.

In the case of Gnonto, Leeds had to stay firm, as the 20-year-old was attempting to force an exit amid interest from Premier League club Everton.

Dorigo anticipated the 20-year-old would have’real relevance’ at Leeds, and now he finally does.

In a piece for the Yorkshire Evening Post in June, former Leeds defender Tony Dorigo stated that Gnonto would be a player of’real importance’ this season.

Dorigo was comparing him to Rodrigo, who was one of the few players from last year to receive any credit for his goal totals and work.

However, he stated that he would like to keep Gnonto over Rodrigo since he had proven in the Premier League that he could shred up the Championship.

During the first half of the season, Gnonto battled for starts due to the form of Summerville and Dan James, but an injury to the latter has allowed him to capitalise with six goals in nine league starts. Dorigo’s prognosis has finally been proven correct.

He said: “Of the two, I believe Gnonto is the one you want to maintain and prioritise next season. The last half of the campaign was weird for him; it appeared that something had happened.

“Because on the pitch, he didn’t look like he did early in the season, when things weren’t going so well for the team, but he was the one making magic happen and standing out. “We haven’t seen that in the last month or two.”

Gnonto might come full circle and sign the Leeds deal.

It’s fair to say that a new deal for Gnonto at Leeds seemed out of reach in the summer, but that could be about to change.

Back in January, it was claimed that the two parties were close to reaching an agreement, but nothing has been inked since then.

However, LeedsUnited.News talked with transfer specialist Graeme Bailey last week, who stated that a new deal is still possible, with conditions having been ‘nearly’ agreed.

A long-term contract, combined with helping Leeds return to the Premier League at the first attempt, would almost certainly complete his route to atonement at Elland route.