Mateo Joseph has informed Daniel Farke that he would like to leave Leeds United this summer, with the striker remaining in England and refusing to join his teammates in Germany.
It emerged on Tuesday evening that Joseph had handed in a transfer request via a phone call with Daniel Farke. The striker was nowhere to be seen in Sweden when Leeds took on Man United, drawing 0-0.
Speaking after the match, Farke suggested Joseph felt he wasn’t ready to join the squad. Joseph had been with Spain’s U21 side at the Euros in Slovakia, but so had Willy Gnonto who started for Leeds on Saturday.
It suggested at that moment, that Joseph was pushing for a move. After Tuesday’s game against SC Verl, Farke confirmed a transfer request had been submitted by Joseph and Leeds had reluctantly accepted it.
What Joseph said when Farke told him to join squad in Germany
Despite Joseph’s desire to leave Leeds, Farke invited Joseph to join the squad in Germany. He felt that the player should still honour his contract and continue to train with The Whites until a potential exit arrives.
The Athletic report that Leeds will not sell Joseph unless their asking price is met, though it is unclear how much that is. Many reports suggest that Leeds will want a £10m fee for the Spain U21 striker this summer.
Farke is quoted by The Athletic as saying that Joseph has refused to join his teammates in Germany and for now, will train at Thorp Arch. Upon the squad’s return, he will train with the club’s Under-21 side.
“I’ve spoken openly and honestly with him about the situation and have strongly recommended, until the situation is sorted, he should do the job. be professional. He said he’s not in the mental state to do this.
“What should I do? I can’t call the police to drag him here on the training pitch. It was his decision. For that, he trains at the moment in England, individually, and will then train with under-21s at Thorp Arch.”
The three clubs that have been linked with Mateo Joseph
The club in pole position are Real Betis. Manuel Pellegrini’s Europa Conference League finalists have qualified for the Europa League and have added Junior Firpo, alongside Marc Roca and Diego Llorente.
Betis had a bid rejected for Joseph on the final day of the January window and remain interested. Over the weekend, it emerged that Celta Vigo also wanted to bring in Joseph after also qualifying for Europe.
Slightly left-field, Birmingham City have also been touted with a move for Joseph. But Joseph has made it clear to Farke that he would like a move to Spain, where he is highly-regarded due to his Spain U21 form.
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