Grayson: Gradel stays at Leeds

LEEDS United have insisted winger Max Gradel will stay at Elland Road, amid reports of a £2.5m transfer request from West Ham.

Manager Simon Grayson denied that Gradel had asked to leave Leeds following the bid last week.

West Ham are not thought to have increased their bid but Gradel was rumoured this week to have told associates that he would leave Elland Road before the end of the summer transfer window.

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Grayson said: “I don’t know where people get this stuff from. There’s been no written transfer request and no unrest from him.

“You’ve seen from his performances in pre-season that he’s focused on what he needs to do, and we don’t want him to leave.

People are out there to cause a bit of trouble and unsettle players but I spoke to Max about the situation and told him to focus on his football. That’s all he wants to do. The only people who matter in this is myself, the chairman (Ken Bates) and Max Gradel.”

Gradel is out of contract with Leeds in less than 12 months’ time and his short deal has encouraged both West Ham and Fulham to identify him as a summer transfer target.