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Fabrizio Romano : Leeds braced for bid for first-team star ‘in next days’ after Fri development

Leeds are expecting a bid in the “next days” from Everton for Wilfried Gnonto after he handed in a transfer request, according to Fabrizio Romano.

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.”

Mental

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.

Leeds United

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.

In a related development:
‘He has unbelievable pace’: Daniel Farke hails £24k-a-week Leeds player

Leeds United manager Daniel Farke praised Joe Rodon after his full debut for the Whites in their Friday night Championship encounter.

The Elland Road outfit landed the Tottenham player on a season-long loan earlier in August.

Rodon got one minute off the bench for Leeds in their 1-0 defeat to Birmingham last week.

On Friday night, Leeds hosted West Brom at Elland Road, with the 25-year-old starting in defence.

As per Leeds Live, he enjoyed a “very solid” debut and there were even comparisons to Ben White.

Beren Cross gave him 7 out of 10 and wrote: “Very solid on his full debut.

“Dug himself out of a few holes with sound technical ability. Saw a couple of Ben White-esque dribbles from deep which cut the visitors in half too.”

‘Quite impressive’

Speaking after the game, Farke told Leeds Live about Rodon’s experience and talents as he explained why he replaced Charlie Cresswell.

The £24,000-a-week defender previously shone in the Championship with Swansea, prompting Spurs to move for him.

“First of all it was important for him to have a whole training week together with us,” said Farke.

“I think he was quite impressive and we had time to speak and work with him, also individually on our tactical approach.

“We got the feeling he was prepared and we don’t have to speak about his quality, he knows this league inside out.

“He was rock solid when he played in this league and that was the reason Tottenham spent so much money on him.

“He’s got unbelievable pace and it is good when we have to defend that high in the field, it helps.

“He brings also aerial threat into our game, we have many smaller, not the tallest players, also important for us in terms of set-pieces he is strong in duals and build up passes in his technique.

“Also, to find a pass, there is still a few things he can improve. I think in one or two scenes he took a bit too much risk in terms of stepping in.”

How did Leeds fare against West Brom?

Leeds went on draw 1-1 with the Baggies, Luke Ayling striking back after the visitors’ controversial opener.

Brandon Thomas-Asante got the final touch on a close-range effort that wrongfooted Illan Meslier in the 52nd minute.

However, the effort appeared to brush the Baggies player’s hand on the way into the Leeds net.

The Whites then pulled one back in the 72nd minute through the Whites captain.

Ayling rose above Erik Pieters to head home a neat Daniel James delivery from the left flank.

It’s great to see Rodon do so well on his full Leeds debut.

He really was a cut above for Swansea, prompting Spurs to sign him in 2020.

However, Rodon has been wasted at Tottenham. A player of his calibre should be playing regularly.

Let’s hope the Wales international shows Spurs how good he can be by doing for Leeds what White did in their promotion season.

Let’s also hope he doesn’t stick around at Tottenham and decides to sign for someone who’ll give him regular first-team football.

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