Leeds United transfer news as Phil Hay responds to Wilfried Gnonto question
Phil Hay has played down suggestions that Leeds United forward Wilfried Gnonto was absent against Preston North End due to rumours surrounding a move to West Ham.
Gnonto was not part of Leeds’ matchday squad for Sunday’s (21 January) late 2-1 Championship win at Elland Road.
That came on the back of reports that the Italy international was being targeted by West Ham late in the January transfer window.
While joking on The Square Ball podcast [22 January, 15m 4s] that Gnonto was probably “limping on his way to West Ham”, Hay put his absence down to a knock, rather than anything transfer related.
“He was injured today,” Hay said. “Daniel Farke said on Friday he has a hip flexor injury and pretty much said at that point he’d miss the game.”
Frustrating campaign
The timing of Gnonto’s absence from the matchday squad was interesting, but there is no reason to doubt Farke’s comments.
It has been a very frustrating campaign for the 20-year-old, who has been restricted to just seven league starts this season.
Gnonto has scored just once across a total of 22 outings for Leeds in all competitions, yet he is still seemingly wanted by top-flight clubs.
United were determined to get £30million for the Italian last summer amid interest from Everton, but that valuation is surely a lot lower now.
That is assuming the club even want to sell him, and right now Farke will no doubt just want as many options as possible in attack – and indeed all over the pitch.
Gnonto’s future may well lie away from Elland Road, especially if promotion is not achieved this season, but it may be one to look at more closely in the summer.
Unless a reasonable offer is tabled by West Ham or another interested club in the next week or so, there is no immediate rush to cash in on a player who could yet play an important part this season.
In other Leeds United news, a Sky Sports pundit was left amazed by something “outstanding” a Whites player did in the win over Preston.
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