Leeds have an opportunity to conduct a swap deal with Tottenham in January that could see both clubs benefit. Ange Postecoglou’s Spurs will require more firepower going forward with Son Heung-min leaving for the Asian Cup next month and they could exchange players with Leeds to land that additional forward.
Football.London claim that Spurs have already looked at Leeds’ Wilfried Gnonto, who has struggled to regain his place in Daniel Farke’s starting line-up after picking up an ankle injury earlier in the season. The boss has instead preferred a front four of Joel Piroe, Crysensio Summerfield, Georginio Rutter and Dan James.
This has opened the door for Gnonto to leave for the Premier League, after the club turned down significant interest in the summer. Should the Italian be available in January then there would likely be a host of teams interested in prising him away from Elland Road, but Spurs do have one significant advantage over rival suitors.
Defender Joe Rodon has been spending the season on loan at Leeds from Spurs and they could move to sign him permanently, even though his parent club are having a selection crisis at the back. Postecoglou has been forced to use full-backs Ben Davies and Emerson Royal in the middle of the back four in recent games.
Leeds could try to sign Rodon permanently in January to further bolster their promotion push and the player is open to the switch, having failed to nail down a spot in the Spurs team since signing from Swansea in 2020.
If Leeds do attempt to sign Rodon and Spurs want to bring Gnonto to north London, it is not inconceivable that the two clubs could make a swap deal to ensure that both get what they want out of the January window. Though Leeds are likely to demand an extra fee on top as they value Gnonto higher than Rodon.
Gnonto handed in a transfer request in August and refused to play for Leeds, missing three games but a move failed to materialise in the summer.
He did later return to the squad and apologised for his actions, but has remained out of favour with Farke and rumours have continued to swirl around the 20-year-old who impressed as a sparkplug in the top flight despite Leeds’ relegation.
With Son heading to the Asian Cup, Richarlison spending plenty of time on the treatment table and Dejan Kulusevski recently used in a central position, Spurs could use Gnonto out wide – but may have to part ways with Rodon permanently to do so.
