Leeds United’s latest win over Leipzig did not just prompt celebration. It also sharpened a debate the club can no longer avoid: if a winger has to go, fans increasingly want Dan James to be the one moved on rather than Willy Gnonto.
That reaction makes sense in the context of what Daniel Farke has built. The switch to a 3-5-2 formation last season helped Leeds finish in 14th position, but it also removed room for wingers in the starting line-up. In other words, the tactical shape that gave Leeds more structure has also made life awkward for two players who were bought to influence games from wide areas.
James’s case is straightforward on the financial side. Leeds signed him in the summer of 2021 for £25m, and because that fee has been amortised over five years, selling him now would count as profit. That matters because Leeds need more signings, and they also need room in the squad and funds to make those additions happen.
Gnonto, by contrast, looks like the more valuable asset. Leeds signed him a year later for about £4m, and he may now be worth more than when he arrived because he has a longer contract running to June 2028. That combination of lower original cost and stronger contract leverage gives Leeds a very different calculation to make.
Why Saturday changed the mood
The football itself fed the argument. James was largely poor against Leipzig, while Gnonto came off the bench for 30 minutes and supplied an assist in Leeds’ 2-0 win. One player struggled to make his case, while the other added a decisive contribution in limited time.
That contrast helped explain the social-media reaction this month. Fans were open about which player they would jettison, with some describing James as a “Championship player,” saying he had “hit his ceiling,” and arguing that Gnonto was “ten times the player James is.” Another put it more directly: Gnonto has to stay over James if one has to go.
It is still possible to make the counterargument. James is an established international-level squad option and Leeds are not in the business of discarding useful players lightly. But this is less about sentiment than fit, value and timing. If Leeds remain committed to the 3-5-2, the club must decide whether it is better to keep the younger, longer-term investment or cash in on the player whose sale creates immediate profit.
For Farke, that is the real tension. The tactical compromise that helped Leeds stabilize last season may now force an even tougher squad decision. And if the club needs to raise money before it can strengthen, the debate over Dan James is not going away anytime soon.
