Fabrizio Romano : Leeds braced for bid for first-team star ‘in next days’ after Fri development
Writing on his personal Twitter account (18 August), the reliable transfer journalist reports that the Italy international is pushing to leave Elland Road in any way he can.
The Toffees have already had three bids rejected for the 19-year-old winger, but are now expected to return with an improved offer after the latest developments on Friday night where he formally requested a transfer in writing.
“Leeds United insist on their position: no plans to sell Willy Gnonto,” he wrote.
“Player side, pushing to find any way after written transfer request.
“Everton are prepared to try again in the next days. Gnonto, not training with the squad and determined to leave.”
This is all getting a bit ridiculous now between Leeds and Gnonto, and clearly neither side are willing to back down.
Obviously Gnonto wants out to play Premier League football, but the Whites have made their stance clear and if they back down now anyone will feel that there is a blueprint there and they can do it too to get what they want.
With that said though, keeping someone who so clearly and publicly doesn’t want to be at Elland Road can only be counter-productive to Daniel Farke’s plans and squad, and it’s probably best to just let him go.
Set a price that is deemed acceptable and tell him, his representatives and any club interested that if they want him then they have to pay up.
We can’t be short-changed, but keeping him now does far more harm than good and it makes sense to get rid of this player who has no future and has burned his bridges with the fans.