The name of Anthony Limbombe has been long on the lips of Leeds United fans since the Whites had a reported £1.5m offer turned down for the Belgian winger last August, according to the Yorkshire Evening Post (YEP).
Since then fans have whetted their appetites and wet their parched lips at the prospect of such a player joining the rivoluzione gloriosa that is forever being promised by Leeds owner Massimo Cellino. In previous seasons the Whites have fallen short by a long straw, let down by poor business in the transfer market and loan windows.
However, things seem to have changed this summer with exciting attackers being brought into the Elland Road club in the shape of Marcus Antonsson, Hadi Sacko and the exciting Kemar Roofe as the Whites look to move away from the shot and chance-shy approach that they had during last season’s Championship campaign.
On Friday, Limbombe’s club NEC Nijmegen announced that the youngster had walked off from training after a meeting between the player, his representatives and the club over his immediate future. As such, the club put the following on the official website:
“Friday, July 15 [there] has, at the training camp in Garderen, been a conversation between N.E.C. and Limbombe and his management about his future. Limbombe, after this conversation, left the training camp in Garderen without permission from staff or management.
N.E.C. has let the attacker in writing that he must report Monday, July 18 at 09:00 at the club. Limbombe could not do so, then the club will consider appropriate action because of refusal to work.”
This was enough to get Leeds fans in a bit of a flutter with many seeing it as a sign that he was trying to force through a move to the club. Indeed, as of writing this, no confirmation has been placed on the NEC website as to whether Limbombe has complied with this morning’s ultimatum. However, YEP reporter Phil Hay says that the situation is “getting very messy” as a result of the following Tweet he posted.
Reports from Holland are that Limbombe has not reported in for training with NEC. Was ordered to attend at 9am this morning. #lufc
— Phil Hay (@PhilHay_) July 18, 2016
As a result of storming of from training and going AWOL, Limbombe was also left out of the weekend’s 5-2 loss to German Bundesliga side Hannover, a game which saw high profile NEC players take part.
With the situation at a Mexican stand-off, today could very well prove to be an interesting one for Leeds United fans and one that is a definite ‘wait-n’-see’ day.
