Transfer insider Dean Jones says Leeds United attacker Wilfried Gnonto was on the end of some bad advice this summer.
Jones was speaking to Give Me Sport where he provided a summary of Gnonto’s situation after an intense summer of transfer speculation.
Gnonto was the subject of strong interest from Everton following Leeds‘ relegation with Sean Dyche’s side having made several offers for the 19-year-old.
The most recent of those bids, according to BBC Sport journalist Shamoon Hafez, came the night before deadline day and was around £25.7 million, £4.3 million short of Leeds’ valuation.
As per Sky Sports, Everton had already made four offers before that, all of which, of course, were rejected by Leeds, which was what frustrated Gnonto.
As per Sky Sports, Everton had already made four offers before that, all of which, of course, were rejected by Leeds, which was what frustrated Gnonto.
Jones says Gnonto was ‘badly advised’ this summer
Amid so many rejected offers, Gnonto tried to force his way out of the Elland Road exit door by refusing to play in matches against Birmingham City and Shrewsbury Town.
Gnonto was then told to train away from the rest of the first team squad by Daniel Farke, before the Italian then handed in a transfer request just hours before the draw with West Brom.
However, Gnonto has since apologised to Farke and the club, and was reintegrated back into the side for the 4-3 win at Ipswich Town, with journalist Jones claiming he was ‘badly advised’ this summer.
“You have got players like Gnonto who haven’t got a move away and are having to now knuckle down and show that they’ve got what it takes. At the end of the day, Gnonto didn’t have the same clause to get out like Luis Sinisterra did, so there’s not much you can do about that from a personal point of view.
“I think Gnonto is the sort of player that will quickly have to get his head around this. He’s still young. I think, personally, he’s been badly advised at times during the transfer window. But he is an unbelievable talent, and we’ll see some magic moments from him still.”
It does certainly feel that much of Gnonto’s actions were agent driven given how he has comeback and performed in the two matches since his return to the side.
The harder he continues to work, the quicker all of his summer actions will be forgotten and ultimately, he is still only a teenager with a lot to learn.