Willy Gnonto submitted his transfer request to Leeds United via email, according to The Athletic journalist Phil Hay.
Writing on The Athletic website on Sunday morning (20 August), Hay reported that a “formal transfer request was written on” the 19-year-old’s behalf as he ramps up his efforts to exit Elland Road.
Gnonto’s efforts come at the same time as Tyler Adams’ move to Bournemouth heats up but it is understood that Leeds are consistently telling the Italy forward – as well as the public – that he will not be sold this summer.
Which Leeds players are refusing to play?
Only Gnonto, as it stands.
Adams’ move to Bournemouth is in the final stages but he’s been injured, so he hasn’t been refusing to take to the field for Daniel Farke.
It feels as though if Gnonto goes, he’ll be the final one out of the door at Elland Road if you exclude any young players who may be loaned out.
Rodrigo, Tyler Adams, Adam Forshaw and Joel Robles are the only senior players to leave permanently so far this summer, but there have been a lot of loans.
Robin Koch, Diego Llorente, Brenden Aaronson, Rasmus Kristensen, Marc Roca, Max Wober and Jack Harrison have all secured temporary exits from Elland Road. However, most of those deals include option-to-buy clauses, which means they’re as good as gone.
In the eyes of the Leeds fans, they may as well be.
It’s been a very hard summer for Leeds fans but it seems as though the worst of it could be over and we should now start to expect some more incoming to join Ethan Ampadu, Karl Darlow and Sam Byram.