Jim White and Simon Jordan hit out over Leeds transfer story live on talkSPORT

talkSPORT hosts Simon Jordan and Jim White have hit out over Leeds United forward Willy Gnonto’s refusal to play for the club amid his desire to leave Elland Road.

The pundits spoke live on The Simon Jordan and Jim White Show on talkSPORT (15 August) criticising the 19-year-old’s refusal to play and questioning his character after he made himself unavailable in Leeds’ last two fixtures.

The Italian international has been linked with a move back to the Premier League, with Everton widely reported to be making multiple bids.

“God forbid these people have any terrible adversity in their lives because you’re going to have to stay at a massive football club like Leeds and picking up a really good salary.

“What kind of characters do these people think they are?”

To which White replied: “Put on the shirt! Get on with it.”

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While Gnonto has a right to want to leave a club at any given point, the manner in which he has attempted to leave Elland Road has been widely criticised.

Leeds are finding themselves in an unexpected patch of poor form with their Championship season getting off to a poor start. With just one point in their opening two fixtures, the Gnonto exit drama just adds salt to the wound.

Gnonto himself has made his desires clear, but the damage to his reputation could be more consequential than he realises. Whether outside pressures are forcing his hand, he will leave a poor legacy at Elland Road.

But his departure feels imminent and a return to the Premier League is looking more and more likely, but Leeds could have used his services in their promotion bid.

His lively performance on the opening day of the Championship against Cardiff gave the Elland Road faithful a taste of what could have been.

In other Leeds United news, the Whites are set to offer a young full-back a fresh contract and could be in line for regular first-team starts.