All of the latest Leeds United headlines including reports on Italy international Wilfried Gnonto and goalkeeper Illan Meslier.

Gnonto talks?

Wilfried Gnonto has been reintegrated into Daniel Farke’s first-team plans following a summer of intense speculation.

The Italy international emerged as a transfer target for Everton, but Sean Dyche’s side were unable to strike a deal for the 19-year-old.

Now, Football Insider claim Leeds are keen to avoid a similar scenario in the mid-season window and are prepared to offer Gnonto improved terms on a new contract.

The attacker marked his return to the fold after a period of training alone with a goal in the Whites’ first league win of the season at Ipswich Town.

The report does not state whether Gnonto himself is open to agreeing to a new contract, having impressed in his debut season at Elland Road despite Leeds’ relegation.

Illan Meslier was another first-team star that was widely expected to leave ahead of the club’s return to the Championship.

The goalkeeper lost his starting spot for the final four games last term under interim boss Sam Allardyce.

Karl Darlow was brought in over the summer, with many assuming the former Newcastle United shot-stopper would take the number one spot in the event of Meslier’s departure.

However, the 23-year-old began the season as Farke’s first choice and looks set to continue in the role.

According to Football Insider, the Whites are ‘relaxed’ about the prospective sale of Meslier having already brought in Darlow.

The club are said to have valued the former Lorient prospect in the region of £40 million, but were unable to strike a suitable deal in the last window.

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Dan James mocked by Sky Sports pundits in Leeds United win at Millwall

Dan James provided the “assist of the season” as he fell over and managed to scuff the ball into the path of Joel Piroe for a Leeds United goal, according to David Prutton.

The Sky Sports pundit, speaking live on the post-match analysis on Sunday (17 September) admitted he was being “slightly mischievous” as he, Jermaine Beckford, and Jobi McAnuff laughed at the Welsh winger’s misfortune in losing his feet when a goal of his own looked on the cards.

In the 3-0 victory at Millwall Piroe tapped home his second from close range in the 77th minute after Georginio Rutter had cut a return ball back to James in the area only for him to stumble and miscue his shot.

With all three pundits laughing, Prutton said (14.08pm): “Assist of the season so far does go to Daniel James.

Sorry I’m being slightly mischievous when I say that, this could have ended embarrassingly for Leeds but it ended with the second goal of the game.”

Beckford replied: “It did indeed. Every time I watch that back the assist just gets better and better, I’ll be honest with you.

“Look, the spaces that Leeds United are creating in these instances, three against one, the ball falls to Dan James after a great set out wide to Georginio Rutter, and that’s going to be easiest finish for Piroe this season.

“Right place at the right time, that’s what he was doing at Swansea, and that’s one of the main reasons why Leeds United have bought him in, fantastic player.”

Calamity

James’ surge forward had created the chance in the first place as he drove towards the box before feeding it wide to Rutter, so he would have wanted to finish the move off himself.

A split second before his moment of glory he tripped over his own feet and only ended up diverting the ball towards the back post where Piroe tapped in from close to the goalline.

Ultimately for Leeds United there was no harm done, and given his likely importance to Daniel Farke’s side throughout this season it might be more beneficial for the summer signing to build as much confidence as possible early on.

But given James’ reputation for lacking nothing in terms of energy and work-rate, but plenty in terms of final product, it won’t have done anything to dispel those views.

It will be easy for the Whites to laugh at the Wales international’s misfortune on this occasion because it didn’t prevent them recording a statement win at The Den.

On more frustrating days in recent years it has been very different, but there are some distinctly positive signs developing for this team at the moment so the struggles of the past year can potentially be consigned to the past.