Journalist advises Leeds United to ‘bite the bullet’ with decision over wantaway star Wilfried Gnonto
Leeds United find themselves “backed into a corner” and must now sell winger Wilfried Gnonto, according to journalist Ryan Taylor.
It is clear that the 19-year-old youngster is keen on quitting Elland Road. On Friday 18 August, he submitted an official transfer request, after having refused to play on multiple occasions.
Although, Phil Hay has reported via The Athletic (22 August) that the forward has now been reintegrated into first-team training. However, Daily Express journalist Taylor believes that the club would be better off selling Gnonto after his internal feud with the club has become so public.
“They’ve backed themselves into a corner now, in my view, because there’s a point where you want to hold firm on your stance,” Taylor told GIVEMESPORT (22 August).
“It’s almost like if they sell him now, everyone’s going to say, ‘Why didn’t you just sell him anyway?’ The more they’re digging their heels into the ground, the more Gnonto is pushing to leave.
“I do think they’ve just got to bite the bullet, swallow their pride and sell him. I think they could get a good price for him.”
Decision time
Taylor makes an interesting point. While in an ideal world, it would be fantastic to fully reintegrate Gnonto into the squad and get him firing in the Championship, sometimes it is not wise to have a player within the club who clearly doesn’t want to be there. Especially when that player has made it so publically apparent that they don’t want to be there.
Supporters might now struggle to get behind a player who has so clearly expressed his desire to leave Elland Road behind. At the club’s recent match against West Brom, a group of fans unveiled a banner which painted Gnonto in a very negative light, to say the least.
Although, sometimes in football all it takes for fans to forgive one of their stars is a few goals and assists. Gnonto is certainly talented and has more than enough potential to shine in England’s second division.
If he can perform to his peak this season, promotion might very well be on the cards. Now the Whites must decide whether that is worth the gamble of keeping an unhappy player.
In other Leeds United news, a £10million transfer is on the cards in West Yorkshire.