Joe Gelhardt has played nine minutes of Championship football across two league appearances this season and his only start came in the EFL Cup. The striker needs to move on from Leeds United and restart his career at a different club. Daniel Farke doesn’t trust him and it is clear he needs a loan or a transfer away from Elland Road in the January transfer window.
At 22, the forward’s career has hit the doldrums and not getting opportunities to play is taking a toll on him. Gelhardt needs the move more than anyone else and he needs to join a club where he will feel wanted again.
The striker was once considered a major talent but his career has meandered in the last couple of seasons, which involved a solid loan spell at Sunderland.
The winter transfer window is approaching and there is a major expectation that the striker and his agent will try to move on from Elland Road next month. Staying at Leeds is not worth it for him and his career.
A few Championship clubs such as Birmingham City are interested in signing the striker and he has also been linked with a move to Scotland where Rangers are said to be interested in getting their hands on him.
Gelhardt needs to play more football and Leeds would prefer to move him so his exit from Elland Road should be a given, right? The problem is that it is not that simple an equation.
Moving Joe Gelhardt from Leeds would be complicated and it is not for footballing reasons
The striker needs to find a way to play more football in the latter half of the season if he wants to avoid further stalling of his career and it is clear he won’t get the required game time at Leeds United.
Farke seems to have no faith in the forward. A move away from Elland Road is almost his only way to further develop his career.
Gelhardt is still considered a talent within the football community and interest from Championship clubs and Rangers shows that he is still a wanted player.
However, a move away from Leeds would be tricky as it emerged earlier this season he is on high wages at Leeds. It was claimed that he is on Premier League wages at the moment.
Rangers are definitely not in any financial condition to afford him if he is indeed on wages compared to players in the Premier League. Even Championship clubs would be reticent to meet those salary expectations given he has played very little football recently.
Gelhardt will have to agree to drop his wage demands and accept a significant pay cut if he wants to move on from Leeds and play more football in the latter half of the season.
It remains to be seen whether the striker agrees to make such a financial sacrifice as without that a move away from Leeds could be difficult.
Leeds United must do what is right for the striker
Joe Gelhardt remains a very highly rated talent despite his struggles at Leeds United and several Championship sides will be interested in signing in the winter window.
Some of these teams could even be in contention for promotion and Leeds would prefer not to sell him to a Championship rival in the middle of the season.
However, Leeds should leave the decision to the player if they can reach an agreement with a club. The striker must be given the right to choose his next club given it’s his career is on the line.
Gelhardt would likely prefer to join a club where he would play the most number of minutes and Leeds must ensure that the striker gets what he wants.
