Wilfried Gnonto still ‘hopes for a move’ away from Leeds United – Fabrizio Romano
Despite being reintegrated into the first-team picture at Leeds United, winger Wilfried Gnonto still wishes to leave the club, according to Fabrizio Romano.
After handing in an official transfer request at the club, and expressing his desire to leave by refusing to play for the Whites, the 19-year-old Italy international has been reintegrated into first-team training.
Manager Daniel Farke told the media, in quotes reported via the club’s official Twitter page (24 August) that he and Gnonto had made amends.
However, despite the latest twist, Romano has reiterated that Gnonto’s stance has not changed, even if the player’s circumstances have.
“Leeds have always maintained their position that they don’t want to sell the player. Now he is training again with the squad, so it’s getting complicated,” the reliable Italian journalist told GIVEMESPORT (26 August).
“The player still hopes for a move in the final days of the window, but it’s very difficult with Leeds.”
Nothing has changed
Many supporters at Elland Road might have assumed that because Gnonto was back training with the team again, his focus was once again on Leeds. However, Romano’s latest quotes clearly suggest that is not necessarily the case and the player would still happily catch the first train out of West Yorkshire.
Whether or not that train arrives of course is a very different question, although it will be frustrating for fans to know there is now a player within the first-team picture who has his mind elsewhere. Promotion from the Championship is a tricky path to navigate and if the Whites have any chance of returning to England’s top flight, they will need players who are 100 per cent committed to the cause.
It does leave Farke in an awkward situation because if the club is not willing to sell, there is no point in the German having a player as talented and valuable as Gnonto sat in the reserves.
Overall, it is clearly not an ideal scenario for any party involved.
In other Leeds United news, a heartbreaking exit could now be on the cards as transfer news emerges.