The Daily Mail – not the most trustworthy of newspapers I grant you – are today claiming that Max Gradel has demanded an exit from Elland Road.

The 23 year old winger scored 18 times for Leeds United last season and has been the subject of constant transfer speculation throughout the summer.

Leeds United have already rejected at least one offer for the Ivorian and Simon Grayson has gone on record to say they have no intentions of selling the club’s player of the year. However, the Leeds boss did add that every player has their price and that Max Gradel is no exception.

Of course, it could just be that Gradel’s agent is drumming up speculation to try and force Leeds United’s hand with the currently ongoing contract negotiations. It’s believed The Whites have already made an offer to Max Gradel but the players agent demanded £25,000 per week – more than twice what the next highest paid player at the club currently receives.

The current situation is reminiscent of the Jermaine Beckford saga back in 2009. Whilst Leeds United stood their ground and refused to sell their top goalscorer, Beckford ultimately left at the end of the 2009-10 season on a free with Leeds losing out on a deal that could have netted them a couple of million.

If the Daily Mail’s reports are true and Max Gradel is demanding a move then there really is no point in Leeds United blocking it. The last thing we need is a player in the squad who doesn’t want to be there and with only one year left on his contract, it would be stupid to allow him to leave on a free next season when we could get around £3m by selling him now.

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