17 August 2023 , 11:45
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Leeds United manager Daniel Farke says Wilfried Gnonto continues to train away from the Championship club's first team as Everton look to seal a deal for the forward.
The 19-year-old Italy international has attracted interest from Everton this summer following Leeds' relegation from the Premier League. The Blues have had several bids rejected and Gnonto remains keen on a return to the top flight but Leeds are adamant he is not for sale.
He has been training away from the first team and will not be included in the squad for Leeds' match against West Bromwich Albion on Friday. The Inter Milan trainee also missed recent games against Birmingham City and Shrewsbury Town.
Everton's interest in Gnonto is still active with manager Sean Dyche looking to secure his second signing from Elland Road after Jack Harrison's loan move. Farke confirmed that Gnonto is one of three players - along with Luis Sinisterra and Helder Costa - who are currently undergoing individual training programmes away from the squad.
He said (via the Liverpool Echo ): "I can confirm the closer we edge to the end of the transfer window, the more and more we are in control over the situation. This is what has happened over the last days. The situation is up a little bit, the closer we edge towards the end of the transfer window we are back in the driving seat and it's definitely good news.
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"There are many questions and it would take too long to speak about each individual at length. With Willy, we've spoken about each and everything so what I can say is, which is important to say this in an open and honest way, that Helder Costa, Willy Gnonto and Luis Sinisterra are training separately from the group.
"They have individual training in order to stay fit and to be prepared, they are also moved out of the dressing room for different reasons. We've spoken at length about the situation with Willy. With Luis Sinisterra, it's also different to the situation compared to Willy Gnonto."
Farke said that Gnonto has been told that Leeds will not sell him in the current transfer window. The manager added he is confident a 'judgement' will be found 'from the legal point of view'.
Dyche wants to sign Gnonto for Everton (David Blunsden/Action Plus/REX/Shutterstock)Farke continued: "With Willy, we spoke about this, there is no exit clause, we have made it quite clear that we won't sell him. With Luis, it's different, he had some exit clauses in his contract and it was more like some open contractual question marks, legal question marks, for that he wasn't available for the last game.
"We also decided with Willy that from the legal point of view, it's clear and obvious that he won't train with the group because his mind won't concentrate and he won't concentrate, and focus fully on football, and we didn't want the group to be distracted from these topics.
"The situation is sorted, we have decided to move him out of our group but we're working unbelievably hard in the last few days, there's been some movements, so we will find a judgement from the legal point of view. At the moment, all three players were playing separately from the group and we will see what happens over the next (few) days."
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