Daniel Farke threatens Leeds United squad with quadruple Elland Road exit now on the cards
Daniel Farke has told those who no longer want to play for Leeds United to stay away from the dressing room, as the Mail on Sunday reports as many as four first-team players could depart before the end of the transfer window.
Luis Sinisterra and Wilfried Gnonto were two notable omissions from United’s squad for their 1-0 loss at Birmingham City on Saturday [12 August], with the former making himself unavailable for selection amid claims he is wanted by Everton [TEAMtalk].
Tyler Adams and Jack Harrison also missed out through injury, and the newspaper’s online edition suggested on Sunday [13 August] they are still being eyed up by Premier League clubs ahead of the transfer window closing on 1 September.
Speaking after the loss at St Andrew’s, Farke is quoted by the publication as saying: “It’s quite normal that transfer speculation affects other players. They are not living on the moon and these situations don’t make life easy for the group.
“I want a group fully focused and committed. This club is bigger than any player or manager or board member. I’m not begging anyone ‘Please play for us’. The club too big.
“If a player doesn’t want to be with us then they can train alone and use their own dressing room. I need players who are fully committed to defend the shirt.”
Let them go
Leeds have made a slow start to their first Championship campaign in four years, having followed up a 2-2 draw against Cardiff City with a late 1-0 loss at Birmingham – Lukas Jutkiewicz’s injury-time penalty proving the difference in the West Midlands.
Those underwhelming results have only heightened supporters’ frustrations at seeing the likes of Gnonto and Sinisterra sit out games, with Farke hinting the Colombian is another who is unsettled as the transfer window draws to a close.
Throw in uncertainty over the futures of injured pair Adams and Harrison, and it is little wonder that Farke is cutting such a frustrated figure just over a week into the new season.
Leeds supporters let their frustration known by aiming a chant towards Gnonto at St Andrew’s, making it difficult to see a way back for the Italy international – and indeed Sinisterra should he make it clear he wants out.
Adams and Harrison are in a different position, as both are nursing injuries rather than refusing to play, but the uncertainty over the futures of all four players is far from ideal for Farke.
The best solution in the case of Gnonto and Sinisterra is surely to let both players depart if and when concrete offers are tabled, while Farke could do with Adams and Harrison’s futures – injured or otherwise – being resolved as soon as possible so that replacements can be sought.
Only then can Farke truly get to work on turning things around at Elland Road and ultimately achieve his aim of guiding Leeds to an instant return to the big time.
In other Leeds United news, former Whites boss Neil Redfearn picked out one player for praise in the defeat to Birmingham.