‘Our understanding’: Phil Hay says Leeds player will now be training alone at Thorp Arch

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Leeds United attacker Wilfried Gnonto is now expected to train away from the rest of the first team squad.

That is according to Phil Hay, who was speaking on the latest episode of the Square Ball Podcast, where he shared his ‘understanding’ that Gnonto will no longer be involved with the team at Thorp Arch.

Gnonto is subject to disciplinary action at Leeds having refused to play in both of the club’s last two matches as he holds out for a move to Everton.

The 19-year-old first made himself unavailable for the Carabao Cup tie with Shrewsbury Town, before then doing the same ahead of the trip to Birmingham City, despite having trained well in between those matches.

Everton remain determined on signing Gnonto before the end of the window and as per Fabrizio Romano, have already agreed personal terms on a five-year-deal.

Hay says Gnonto to train alone at Leeds

With Daniel Farke stating at the weekend he does not want any uncommitted players in his squad, Hay has now reaffirmed that statement by reporting Gnonto will be training on his own.

He said: “There is no release clause, our understanding is that he was going to train on his own now. Farke, without naming him specifically, was brutally honest I thought on Saturday in saying if I have this where someone doesn’t want to play with us, he won’t be in our dressing room, he’ll be off on his own.”

Leeds now really need to make a quick decision on whether to move forward with selling him, or continuing with their stance that he is not leaving.

If it is the former, nothing less than £25 million should suffice but a deal has to be done in a timely manner so it can be reinvested in a now threadbare squad.

On the other hand, if Leeds do remain intent on keeping him, then surely steps have to be taken for Gnonto to start rebuilding the bridges he has burnt with the fans as soon as possible.