Leeds United loan watch: Four managers sacked, relegation threat & Harry Gray injury
A look at how Leeds United’s loan exits have fared in recent weeks.
Leeds United have a spring in their step this international break following Saturday’s 1-0 win at home to Tottenham Hotspur. Substitute Noah Okafor’s 79th-minute strike kept all three points at Elland Road with the Whites sitting ninth in the Premier League.
While Leeds have enjoyed a positive start to the campaign, it’s been a mixed bag for those sent out on loan over the summer. Below, the YEP takes a look at how the six temporary exits have been getting on.
Lucas Perri
Brazilian goalkeeper Perri has started every Serie A match since joining Torino on loan in August, keeping one clean sheet in nine appearances. That shutout was the reward for an inspired performance in which the out-on-loan Leeds man made eight saves during a 3-0 win away at Parma.
But it’s not all been plain sailing for Perri, who has drawn regular criticism after a handful of poor performances and some questionable kicking. After a recent defeat to Frosinone, Italian outlet Toro News said the goalkeeper was ‘careless and inaccurate’ in possession, a criticism Leeds fans are familiar with.
Sebastiaan Bornauw
Like Perri, Bornauw has enjoyed pretty regular football since joining Hamburg on loan for the season. The Belgian has eight starts across all competitions - just one fewer than the entirety of his sole campaign under Daniel Farke - for the mid-table German side, albeit they have the Bundesliga’s joint-third worst defence.
Bornauw has missed three games due to a muscle injury and recently had a nasty-looking collision with goalkeeper Noah Atubolu, eventually passing fit for the following game. But early signs are looking promising for the defender, who is getting the regular football he desired. Hamburg have an option to buy worth just shy of £4million.
Largie Ramazani
It’s been a rollercoaster start to life at loan club Burnley for Ramazani, who on an individual level has shown plenty of promise. He’s currently top-scorer for the Clarets on four goals, the most recent being a beautiful finish against Cardiff City, but despite being 4-1 up in that game they inexplicably ended up losing 5-4.
Despite Ramazani’s efforts and the apparent squad quality of a side who played Premier League football last season, Burnley are in the Championship relegation zone with just one win in 15. The Clarets, who sacked manager Nicky Hayen last month, are believed to have an obligation to buy the Leeds man next summer, by which point they could even be a League One club.
Willy Gnonto
Ramazani’s good pal Willy Gnonto has enjoyed no such form for his temporary club, starting just once in Serie A and failing to score. The manager who sanctioned his loan signing from Leeds, Fabio Grosso, was sacked just days after the winger’s debut against Torino with new boss Paolo Vanoli seemingly not a fan.
Gnonto is at least feeling happy back in Italy, as he recently told Fiorentina’s club media channels. The 23-year-old admitted to feeling more at home in Florence but will no doubt be disappointed over his lack of minutes, particularly in Serie A. La Viola have an option to sign the Leeds man permanently for around £18m.
Joel Piroe
Like Ramazani, Piroe joined one of Leeds’ recent relegation rivals when dropping into the Championship to sign for West Ham United, who have an obligation to buy the striker should they win promotion. He’s got four goals in 14 league appearances, seven of which have come from the start, and has also had to cope with a change of manager.
Nuno Espirito Santo was recently replaced by former Burnley boss Scott Parker, who rivalled Piroe’s parent club Leeds for the Championship title back in 2024/25. It’s not been a great start for the new boss, who drew 3-3 at Cardiff City before losing at Blackburn Rovers last weekend, Piroe scoring in the latter.
Harry Gray
Teenage prospect Gray is into his second loan spell away from Leeds and it’s proven both promising and challenging. The 18-year-old has one goal in his 11 appearances across all competitions but like Ramazani, Gnonto and Piroe, has also waved goodbye to the manager who sanctioned his arrival.
Frustratingly, Gray pulled up with an issue in the warm-up ahead of their FA Cup defeat to Oldham last weekend, meaning he missed the chance to feature under new boss Dave Challinor. The on-loan Leeds frontman has also not made the England Under-19s squad for the international break.