Willy Gnonto set to train alone at Leeds United after last-minute message to Daniel Farke as bus set off for Birmingham City - Phil Hay - MOT Leeds News 13/8/23

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By George Overhill

Willy Gnonto only told Daniel Farke that he didn’t want to make the trip to face Birmingham City as the Leeds United bus was about to leave, according to Phil Hay.

The Athletic journalist reported via the outlet’s website on Sunday 13 August that the Italian international had trained with “enough gusto” on Thursday and Friday, after missing the Carabao Cup with over Shrewsbury on Wednesday, that the manager had planned to use him at St. Andrew’s on Saturday.

According to Hay the 19-year-old is “expected to train alone for now” after telling Farke “his head was still elsewhere and, if he got his way, so was his future”.

Everton have been leading the charge to sign the attacker for most of the summer, and still want him despite coming out on top to land Jack Harrison on loan.

Gnonto missed the midweek game amid frustrations over not being allowed to leave, and the developments Friday night (11 August) that saw him drop out of the trip to Birmingham prompted the club to release a statement insisting they wouldn’t sell him while calling it an “internal disciplinary matter”.

Bombshell

Players wanting to leave Elland Road this summer has become a depressingly familiar theme but compared to some that have already secured their escape Gnonto is less to blame for the relegation they want rid of.

However, it is clearly an untenable situation for the manager to be unable to count on a player at the last second who could otherwise be key.

With Luis Sinisterra subsequently missing from the match-day squad for the 1-0 defeat on Saturday as well Farke has made clear that he only wants players who are committed and won’t beg those who are unconvinced to stay.

There was a time for the former Norwich boss to make a pitch to remain at Elland Road following his belated appointment on 4 July, but now he has to look forward and make plans with players he knows are on board.

He has been left in an impossible situation as big names who had remained throughout the summer suddenly queue up to leave while he struggles to bring in replacements.

Injuries on top have created a perfect storm amid an indifferent start to the Championship campaign, and while quality-wise he would surely love to have the likes of Gnonto and Sinisterra in his side it is difficult to see it happening for now with ambitions apparently elsewhere.

They displayed their ability in the opening day draw with Cardiff City, but the club are powerless to prevent the likes of the Colombian, Tyler Adams, and most recently Harrison leaving thanks to release clauses of varying value.

The Whites are taking a hard line with Gnonto as he has no exit clause but in the current situation nobody wins if he doesn’t play, so unless he can refocus on being a factor for Leeds United this season he may end up leaving still.

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