Aston Villa have emerged as a possible destination for Leeds United winger Wilfried Gnonto, following his side’s relegation from the Premier League.
The 19-year-old was one of Leeds’ best performers in an otherwise dismal season, and looks set to return to the top flight as a number of clubs circle around the Italy international.
Aston Villa have been linked with a move, as Unai Emery and Monchi aim to add another wide attacker to their squad.
Jacob Ramsey and Leon Bailey have been playing on the wings, and Bailey has been inconsistent in his time at Villa so far. Gnonto may end up replacing him in the lineup if he does arrive, but it remains to be seen if he is an upgrade on the Jamaica international.
How does Gnonto compare to Bailey?
Both wingers provided four assists in the league last season, but Gnonto scored just twice, compared to Bailey’s four strikes, in nine more appearances.
Although both forwards rank well for dribbling amongst European wingers, Gnonto particularly excels at ball-carrying and also progresses the ball forward a lot more than Bailey.
One of Bailey’s strengths is his ability in the air, but Gnonto ranks significantly higher for tackles and blocks, with his high-energy style translating to strong performances in both attack and defence.
Gnonto is also six years younger than Bailey, and he performed at a very similar level in his debut Premier League season, in a much worse team.
Moving to Emery’s side could see Gnonto explode, and his ceiling appears higher than Bailey’s if the Spaniard is able to fully unlock the winger’s potential.
Having both could give Emery some variety within the squad, and both could even line up together on either wing, in a front line which could be deadly on the counter, given the speed and skill of both players.
