Wilfried Gnonto: Leeds United forward hands in transfer request after latest Everton bid rejected - Sky 18/8/23
Wilfried Gnonto is unhappy at being denied a move away from Leeds, who ended talks over a move to Everton last week and insisted he is not for sale; negotiations were thought to have been ongoing for around a month prior, with Everton making four offers; the latest was more than £25m
By Lyall Thomas
Wilfried Gnonto has handed in a written transfer request at
Leeds United, Sky Sports News understands.
Gnonto is unhappy at being denied a move away from Elland
Road so far this summer.
Leeds ended negotiations over a potential transfer to
Everton last week and insisted that he was not for sale.
It is understood there had been negotiations with Everton
for around a month prior to this.
Within that time, Everton made four offers, culminating in
the latest one of £25m inclusive of add-ons, plus a sell-on clause.
Gnonto made himself unavailable for the games against
Shrewsbury and Birmingham because of what happened and he was not in the squad
to play West Brom on Friday evening, live on Sky Sports.
Speaking after the Carabao Cup win over Shrewsbury on August
9, Leeds manager Daniel Farke said: "In general you know I'm always open
and honest and give you pretty transparent answers but, once there is a
situation, I can't give you the whole picture. I'm not in control of this.
"I prefer to give you what I can say, not to create a
story, but what I can say are the facts and the fact is that he was not
available. There will be the time to make some comments."
Leeds said in a statement the following day: "Earlier
this week, Willy Gnonto and his representatives were informed by the club that
he would not be sold this summer.
"Following those conversations, Willy felt he was
unable to play in Wednesday night's Carabao Cup tie with Shrewsbury Town.
"Despite training for the last two days, Willy has
informed Daniel Farke that he still does not feel able to play this weekend and
has not travelled to Birmingham for the game tomorrow [August 12].
"This is now an internal disciplinary matter and the
club will make no further comment, other than to reiterate that Willy is not
for sale."
