Confirmed: Huge Leeds boost as £3m winger walks out of training to engineer reported transfer

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Published on:

16 Jul 2016, 9:19 am

By Tom Blackburn

Leeds target Anthony Limbombe has gone to war with his club NEC Nijmegen by walking out of pre-season training, it was announced on Saturday.

It was reported on Thursday that Leeds had had a £1.8million bid rejected for long-term target Limbombe as the Dutch club hold out for £3million.

A statement by the Dutch club on their official website on Saturday claimed the wide man left the training ground on Friday without permission and he will be disciplined if he doesn't report to the club on Monday morning.

#NECNijmegen Anthony Limbombe verlaat trainingskamp N.E.C. https://t.co/WjVXiYLE6X
— N.E.C. Nijmegen (@necnijmegen) July 16, 2016

"On Friday, July 15 at the training camp in Garderen there was a conversation between NEC and Limbombe and his management about his future. Limbombe, after this conversation, left the training camp in Garderen without permission from staff or management," read the statement.

"NEC has let the attacker know in writing that he must report to the club on Monday, July 18 at 09:00. If Limbombe does not do so, then the club will consider appropriate action because of a refusal to work."

The former Belgium Under-19 international's refusal to train is a clear signing that he is attempting to engineer a transfer.

Limbombe has one year remaining on his NEC contract and has been closely tracked by Leeds in recent windows.

Limbombe is known for his explosive pace and also has an eye for goal, scoring seven goals and making seven more in the Eredivisie from the wide-left position last season.

Garry Monk is keen to add width to his Leeds squad, with only Jordan Botaka, Stuart Dallas and Hadi Sacko as recognised wingers.

It’s already been a busy window for Monk, with the former Swansea manager bringing in six new players. The most expensive recruit has been League Two Player of the Year Kemar Roofe, who cost a seven-figure sum from Oxford.

In addition to Roofe, the 37-year-old has also signed Marcus Antonsson and Rob Green on permanent deals, while Kyle Bartley, Hadi Sacko and Matt Grimes have all joined Monk’s revolution on loan.

In other Leeds transfer news, a former Chelsea defender is being lined up to replace Giuseppe Bellusci.

Leeds United

Anthony Limbombe