Everton remain interested in Wilfried Gnonto but face the task of convincing Leeds United into a sale

Leeds United manager Daniel Farke has confirmed that Everton transfer target Wilfried Gnonto is training away from his first team.

The Blues have seen several bids rejected for the Italy international this summer as the 19-year-old eyes a return to the Premier League following the Whites’ relegation to the Championship last season.

Gnonto has made just one appearance this season after being asked to be kept out of Leeds’ last two matchday squads. He will also be absent for their home clash with West Brom on Friday.

Everton are still interested in the attacker, the ECHO understands, as Sean Dyche looks to welcome a second summer arrival from Elland Road after Jack Harrison completed his season-long loan earlier this week.

READ MORE: Tom Davies explains why he has signed for Sheffield United after Everton summer exit

READ MORE: Everton’s transfer stance on Southampton goalkeeper Alex McCarthy outlined

Farke, who has been in situ at the West Yorkshire club since the summer, confirmed that Gnotno was among three players, along with Luis Sinisterra and Helder Costa, currently training away from the squad on individual programmes.

Speaking in his pre-match press conference, he said: “I can confirm the closer we edge to the end of the transfer window, the more and more we are in control over the situation. This is what has happened over the last days. The situation is up a little bit, the closer we edge towards the end of the transfer window we are back in the driving seat and it’s definitely good news.

“There are many questions and it would take too long to speak about each individual at length. With Willy, we’ve spoken about each and everything so what I can say is, which is important to say this in an open and honest way, that Helder Costa, Willy Gnonto and Luis Sinisterra are training separately from the group.

“They have individual training in order to stay fit and to be prepared, they are also moved out of the dressing room for different reasons. We’ve spoken at length about the situation with Willy. With Luis Sinisterra, it’s also different to the situation compared to Willy Gnonto. With Willy, we spoke about this, there is no exit clause, we have made it quite clear that we won’t sell him. With Luis, it’s different, he had some exit clauses in his contract and it was more like some open contractual question marks, legal question marks, for that he wasn’t available for the last game.”

After admitting that there was no exit clause for Gnonto following the Whites’ relegation, Farke was open in the situation surrounding the teenager and revealed the reasons behind casting him away from the first team.

“We also decided with Willy that from the legal point of view, it’s clear and obvious that he won’t train with the group because his mind won’t concentrate and he won’t concentrate, and focus fully on football, and we didn’t want the group to be distracted from these topics,” he continued.

“The situation is sorted, we have decided to move him out of our group but we’re working unbelievably hard in the last few days, there’s been some movements, so we will find a judgement from the legal point of view, but it seems that pretty quickly everything will be sorted. At the moment, today all three players were playing separately from the group and we will see what happens over the next (few) days.”

Blues say appropriate tribute will be created to ‘lifelong Evertonian’ who died after incident at Bramley-Moore Dock site

Everton Football Club is working with the family of Michael Jones on plans for a ‘lasting tribute’ after the construction worker was killed while working on the club’s new stadium.

The lifelong Blue, 26, was severely injured in an incident at the Bramley Moore Dock construction site on Monday. He was rushed to hospital but sadly died.

The tragic loss of Michael has led to a huge outpouring from people across the city and beyond, with calls for a permanent tribute to a man who was thrilled to be working on the new stadium before his life was cut tragically short.

READ MORE: First picture of dad who died on family day out

Today, in a social media statement, Everton said: “The loss of Michael Jones, a lifelong Evertonian who followed the Blues home and away, has left us all devastated.

“The thoughts of everyone at Everton remain with Michael’s family, friends and colleagues. We will now be working with Michael’s family on an appropriate and lasting tribute. Michael Jones, forever in our hearts.”

A crowdfunder launched to help Michael’s family with funeral costs has rocketed to nearly £14,000 in just 20 hours, with hundreds of people contributing.

In a tribute released on Tuesday, Michael’s family said: “The family would like to thank everyone for their ongoing support. It is with our greatest sadness that our beloved son, brother uncle and friend Michael has sadly passed away.”

“He was a lifelong blue who was so happy to working on the new stadium. We want to thank the NHS staff and work colleagues who did their best for Michael. He will be missed beyond words.”

Laing O’Rourke, who Michael was working for on the stadium project, confirmed that ongoing work has been suspended while an investigation is carried out by Merseyside Police and the Health and Safety Executive.