Leeds United

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Shamoon Hafez, BBC Sport

Everton are continuing to pursue a deal for Leeds winger Wilfried Gnonto, despite now having three bids rejected.

The Toffees have tried to complete the transfer of the Italy international all summer and had two bids rejected earlier this summer.

Gnonto, 19, submitted a transfer request and missed three games after being made to train away for from the first-team, before returning to the side and scoring in Saturday’s 4-3 victory over Ipswich.

BBC Sport understands Everton had a £25.7m bid rejected on Thursday, still short of Leeds’ reported £30m valuation.

Leeds continue to maintain the stance, as it has been all summer, that they do not want to sell the player.

Adam Pope, BBC Radio Leeds

Daniel Farke has been speaking to the media before his side take on Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday.

Here is the best of what the Leeds boss has had to say:

• Djed Spence and Glen Kamara should be available to him after signing this week but Illia Gruev is awaiting a visa so it is a race against time.

• Mateo Joseph and Ian Poveda are back in contention for a return to the bench after injury. Sam Byram and Dan James remain sidelined.

• Farke says he is "pretty confident" of keeping hold of Crysencio Summerville, Luis Sinisterra, and Willy Gnonto for tomorrow ahead of tonight's transfer deadline but added: "In football I cannot give 100% guarantees."

• Farke says the club will stay "awake" until the window shuts with regards to bringing in a new left-back.

• He says he is "really pleased with our signings in the last few days", adding: "A brilliant piece of business with Spence. He's proved at this level he can be outstanding. Happy with the two signings in midfield. It was obvious we needed to strengthen. It's a massive help for Archie Gray and Ethan Ampadu. It's definitely good business."

• Farke says Leeds have "a group of players who are desperate to play for this shirt".

• He added: "We are in a solid position but I could not have predicted the squad would look like this eight weeks ago."

• The manager says he is "looking forward to the international break", adding: "That's definitely for sure, not the phone going 1000 times a day. It's exhausting but I'm not complaining. I lead a privileged life."

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Phil McNulty, chief football writer

Leeds United are determined there will be no deadline day departure for Italy winger Wilfried Gnonto, despite continued links with Everton.

The Toffees have a long standing interest in the 19-year-old and were believed to be pondering a late move as they prepare to sell Alex Iwobi to Fulham.

Leeds have maintained a firm stance on any approaches for Gnonto. The player is now back in the fold after disciplinary action was taken against him following a refusal to play at Birmingham City and scored in their 4-3 win at Ipswich Town.

Leeds United defender Cody Drameh has moved to fellow Championship side Birmingham City on loan for the remainder of the season.

The 21-year-old arrived at Elland Road from Fulham in 2020, but has made just 10 appearances for the Whites.

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Sam Greenwood will spend the remainder of the 2023-24 season on loan with Middlesbrough.

The 21-year-old attacking midfielder joined Leeds United from Arsenal in the summer of 2020.

In that time he has made 35 first team appearances for the club - including 25 in the Premier League - scoring one goal and making five assists.

Greenwood has been unable to secure a regular starting spot this season in the Championship, making just two appearances from the bench so far and, in a statement, the club said he "will now look to get further game time away from Elland Road" and also thanked him for his "professionalism".

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Adam Pope, BBC Radio Leeds

"Performance-wise, I can't criticise too much because we have created enough chances to win six games. Incredible statistics - more than 30 shots and created more or less enough chances to score five by half time."

Those were Leeds United manager Daniel Farke's words after Tuesday's penalty shootout defeat at Salford City, following a 1-1 draw in normal time of their Carabao Cup second-round tie.

Clinical finishers like Joel Piroe, who was ineligible, were not on the pitch lamented Farke and although Georginio Rutter received the proverbial arm around rather than being given the cold shoulder from the boss, while commending the Frenchman's work ethic, Farke rued his profligacy in front of goal in the cup match.

But he is convinced the club's £35m record signing is progressing after opening his account in the 4-3 Championship victory at Ipswich Town.

"Now is the time to back him and give him lots of compliments for his development because if he goes on like this he will score many, many decisive goals for us," said Farke.

Piroe will be available to make his home debut in Saturday's Yorkshire derby against rock bottom Sheffield Wednesday.

His statistics are indeed incredible, with 46 goals in 96 appearances for Swansea City and a poacher's finish on his first outing for United already. The Dutchman's composure and game-craft can only enhance Rutter the more they play together.

At the other end, it may be another new face that can help make the defence more impervious, as Tottenham right-back Djed Spence arrives to bolster a backline which has kept just five clean sheets in the past 50 matches.

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In this week's episode of BBC Radio Leeds' Don't Go To Bed Just Yet podcast, Jonny Buchan and Simon Rix discuss the influence of Pascal Struijk and what he adds to Daniel Farke's squad.

The versatile defender has already become a talking point amongst fans this season and scored against Salford City in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday.

Jonny said: "I was talking to a football club analyst and they said Struijk is the best centre half in the Championship.

"He called him a Rolls Royce amongst the others, and that's from someone whose job is to analyse performance."

Simon added: "Just a few weeks into the Championship he had the second most passes of anyone in the league, which is great.

"He's getting a lot of the ball, I'm really glad Farke isn't moving people around."

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

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Leeds United have signed right-back Djed Spence on loan from Tottenham Hotspur.

The 23-year-old former England Under-21 international excelled during Nottingham Forest's promotion to the Premier League during the 2021-22 season to earn his move to Spurs.

However, he has only made four top-flight appearances in north London and spent the second half of last season on loan at Rennes.

He will bolster a Leeds defence that has looked light at full-back early this season.

Leeds United boss Daniel Farke on Carabao Cup defeat at Salford on penalties: "It's disappointing, but we have to accept the loss.

"We hit the bar and the post, and had numerous chances to put the ball in the net, but we didn't and we must improve on that.

"It's not for me to punish or accuse anyone after going out of this competition - it's just been one of those days."

On Salford matchwinner Ossama Ashley being able to retake his penalty after Karl Darlow had saved his initial effort but moved off his line: "It was the only penalty to be retaken, but I can't change the referee's decision."

Adonis Storr, The Roaring Peacock, external

Optimism can be frowned upon among the Leeds United faithful. Too many years punctuated with false starts have left the fanbase wary and this summer of flux yielded more reasons to worry than others.

But hope has been ignited through clever decisions in recruitment. Of the players who have left the Whites, only Marc Roca has been impressing for his new club. And it is telling that most of the departures have been met with a collective shrug from Leeds fans.

In stark contrast, the incomings have all improved the squad. The latest, Joel Piroe, has 19 and 22 goals in his two previous Championship campaigns, and could prove to be the most significant signing in the division.

Re-integrating Wilfried Gnonto and Luis Sinisterra was another sensible move from Daniel Farke. And when Georginio Rutter danced around five Ipswich players on Saturday to score his first goal for the club, United's record signing inspired a collective gasp. Should he start scoring too, the club will not be short of goals.

The Peacocks still look vulnerable defensively and want more signings before the deadline, but by competently navigating a tricky transfer window, Leeds are now serious contenders.

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In the latest episode of Don't Go To Bed Just Yet Jonny Buchan and Simon Rix discuss the transfer window and the strengths that Leeds need to bring in to fight in the Championship.

Jonny believes the window is "key" and signings are still needed.

He said: "We've let players go out, so if this window ends with no more incomings then you'd think they've not really nailed it.

"If they manage three or four new players, then that would be great. If we can get an attacking midfielder, a central midfielder and a left-back, then that will probably be enough to get through until January. At which point they can add another central midfielder."

Simon added: "This year feels different. Last year we didn't buy another left-back, or a striker.

"This year they are saying we need a keeper, so they bought one, we need a striker, bought one of those. It feels like Daniel Farke has got a list of all the problems and is trying to fill the gaps."

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

Listen to BBC Radio Leeds commentary of Salford City v Leeds United from 19:00.

In the latest episode of 'Don't Go To Bed Just Yet' Jonny Buchan and Kaiser Chiefs Bassist Simon Rix discuss the Whites first win of the Championship season.

The team share their feelings after a 4-3 win at Ipswich Town which saw the welcomed return of Willy Gnonto and Luis Sinisterra.

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

Leeds are keen to sign Tottenham full-back Djed Spence on loan, according to The Athletic.

Spence helped Nottingham Forest win promotion from the Championship in 2021-22 but has since found first-team opportunities limited as Spurs.

Speaking to the Transfer Gossip Daily podcast on BBC Sounds, The Athletic's Phil Hay said: "Spence is very much proven in this division, isn't going to be involved at Spurs from what we can gather this season, Leeds would like to take him on a season-long loan and if they decide that he's for them and he's happy to come, then there's a high chance that one happens.

"Leeds are definitely having that thing of being back in the Championship and finding out fairly rapidly who really wants to play in this division, to which the answer is not that many people if they think they're better than the division, as proven by just about everybody trying to force their way out of the door.

"But I get the impression Spence thinks this will be a good move for him and Leeds would certainly take him. If that's the way the dice roll, they'll be very happy to get him through the door."

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

Leeds have made an approach for Tottenham's England Under-21 right-back Djed Spence, 23, on a season-long loan deal. (Athletic - subscription required), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Tuesday's full gossip column