Leeds 'hopeful' permanent deal can be agreed as Wilfried Gnonto set for medical

Leeds United are hopeful a permanent deal can be agreed for Wilfried Gnonto after accepting a loan-to-buy offer from Fiorentina.

The 22-year-old has fallen down the pecking order at Daniel Farke, and has now been given permission to undergo a medical ahead of a loan move to the Serie A club.

The deal for the Italy international is set to include an option to buy, which Leeds hope will be triggered, having initially planned to sell him permanently this summer.

Former Man United chief scout Mick Brown told Football Insider that Leeds have been open to offers for Gnonto all summer and hope to raise funds from his exit.

An initial loan deal is not seen as the ideal outcome, although his wages will be covered by Fiorentina, but there is hope that he can complete a permanent move next summer.

Fiorentina will reserve the right to trigger that option, or not if they decide against making his stay permanent, with Leeds set to turn their attentions towards signing a replacement.

Why are Leeds United selling Wilfried Gnonto?

Football Insider revealed on 31 August that Leeds will only sanction Gnonto's move to Fiorentina if they can line up a replacement before the transfer deadline.

With the Italy international now having been given permission to make the switch, Leeds are pushing to land a new winger, with work ongoing behind the scenes.

They had been hopeful of securing a fee for Gnonto, but with the initial loan containing an option to buy, they will have their fingers crossed over a deal next summer.

"Leeds have been open to offers for Gnonto since the start of the summer," Brown told Football Insider.

"They've been hopeful of securing a good fee for him, and then when he moves on, they can set their sights on bringing in a new winger to replace him.

"He's fallen down the pecking order a bit in recent years, he just hasn't quite been consistent enough to make a regular impact on the team.

"He'll give you moments, Gnonto, where you think 'wow' because he'll beat his man or get in behind, but all too often the shot is just wide, or the pass is just short.

"So Leeds have decided the best decision is to move him on, bring in a fee for him, and then spend that on improving their team.

"If he goes on loan, then obviously that fee isn't coming in, but they will be hopeful that he can make the permanent move at the end of that if he performs to their standards."

Which new wingers are on Daniel Farke's radar?

Gnonto's imminent exit from Elland Road suggests Leeds are now prepared to accelerate their interest in signing a new winger before the 1 September deadline.

Farke has been keen to bolster his squad in attacking positions since the window opened, and work is now ongoing behind the scenes as they push for their top targets.

Football Insider revealed on 30 August that Leeds are still working on a deal to sign Chelsea winger Mykhailo Mudryk on loan before the transfer window closes.

Despite the Blues having blocked previous offers from Leeds, with plans instead to send him elsewhere, they are working hard to convince them to let him join.

Chelsea would prefer to send Mudryk to Strasbourg, but reports have suggested the winger would prefer to stay in England, in another boost to Leeds' chances.