Leeds United will not sanction a mid-season exit for Everton target Wilfried Gnonto.
That is according to journalist Ben Jacobs, who provided a new update on Gnonto’s future to Give Me Sport, where he also touted the prospect of a ‘peacemaker’ contract’.
Gnonto had looked destined to leave Elland Road in the summer as he looked to force his way out after refusing to play in matches against Shrewsbury Town, Birmingham City and West Brom.
The 19-year-old also handed in a transfer request before the game against the latter, but despite the attempts to move on, Leeds held firm in their stance that he was not for sale.
Following face-to-face talks with Angus Kinnear and Daniel Farke, Gnonto eventually apologised and has since been welcomed back into the fold at Leeds.
Everton were the side pushing strongest for Gnonto during the summer, with BBC Sport journalist Shamoon Hafez reporting their final offer totalled £25.7 million on the eve of deadline day.
However, that was still someway short of Leeds’ £30 million valuation and so Gnonto remained in West Yorkshire, which according to Jacobs, could now see him offered a ‘peacemaker contract’.
Jacobs says Leeds will not let Gnonto leave in January
Jacobs also added that Gnonto is now respectful of Leeds’ decision and understands a mid-season move will not be sanctioned, as they look to return to the Premier League.
He said: “What we’ll have to do is wait and see whether, at the end of the season, there’s a change in Leeds’ position. And that will obviously be circumstantial, so it’s far too early to say because next summer, if Leeds are back in the Premier League, then Wilfried Gnonto may just want to stay.
“The other thing in all of this is obviously whether, at any point going forwards, improved terms that are offered to Gnonto. Sometimes when a player stays at a club, but was about to leave, or wanted to leave anyway, you sort of almost get a peacemaker contract offered. We saw it with Moises Caicedo, even though he eventually left, and that contract really doesn’t mean much.
“Because from the players side, they would obviously try and put a clause in there that still allows them to leave in some capacity. For example, if Leeds didn’t get back up to the Premier League. But if everything goes according to plan, that kind of thing can obviously keep the player happy and on better terms as well.
“So my sense of the situation is that it’s blown over and that Gnonto respects Leeds’ position and that nothing will be sanctioned mid-season. And then obviously, by the summer, it will all simply depend on whether Leeds go up or stay in the Championship. If they stay in the Championship, I think they’ll let Gnonto leave. But if they go back up into the Premier League, he may not want to leave and like I said before, if Everton is still the primary suitor, we also have to understand where they are to.”
A new deal would make sense for all parties as not only would Gnonto receive a pay rise, but Leeds could also insert a set release clause in his contract in the event they are not promoted.
Not only would this eliminate the prospect of a repeat of the most recent summer’s events, but it would still also enable Leeds to make a significant profit on the player.
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