Leeds United Manager Daniel Farke Has Georginio Rutter’s Replacement Right in Front of Him

Georginio Rutter’s departure to Brighton was one of the more disappointing exits from Leeds United this summer.

The French forward was a standout in the Championship last season, scoring six goals and providing 15 assists.

Across all competitions, he contributed to 24 goals, leaving a significant gap in the team.

Despite this, Leeds failed to secure a number 10 during the recent transfer window, and there is still uncertainty about who will fill that role.

Brenden Aaronson has scored two goals in four Championship appearances playing as a number 10, but questions remain about his consistency in the final third.

For instance, against Portsmouth, he scored a late equalizer but missed a crucial chance shortly after that could have secured Leeds the win.

For Leeds to achieve their Premier League ambitions, manager Daniel Farke needs consistent performances from his attacking players, which is where Wilfried Gnonto could be a solution.

The recent international break has shown Farke an alternative to Aaronson in the advanced midfield position.

Gnonto played 88 minutes for Italy’s U21s in their 3-0 victory over Norway during the Under-21 European qualifiers.

He assisted Tommaso Baldanzi’s opener with a perfectly executed outside-of-the-foot pass.

Gnonto also looked effective in that role during the second half against Sheffield Wednesday, although he has mostly played as a winger during his time at Leeds.

Interestingly, Gnonto has 22 goals and seven assists in 53 games when playing as a second striker or number 10, with most of these appearances coming earlier in his career or for his international side.

As demonstrated during the international break, Gnonto could be a strong option for Farke in a more central attacking role behind the main striker.