Joe Gelhardt has hit the crossroads in his career. He desperately needs to move on from Leeds United and is expected to do so on a loan move. However, no deal is still in place as negotiations continue behind the scenes for him to find the exit door. He was once hailed as a great talent when the Whites signed him from Wigan but despite showing flashes of his ability, the striker’s career has stalled at Elland Road. Daniel Farke has shown little faith in him and his wages are a hurdle as his representatives seek to find a new club for him in the winter window, with a loan this month edging closer.
Hull City, the Whites’ opponents last Saturday, have today emerged as the favourites to sign the 22-year-old on loan this month until the end of the season – it is on the face of it a move that makes sense.
Gelhardt made a rare appearance in a Leeds matchday squad last weekend at Hull due to Patrick Bamford’s injury. He remained an unused substitute but it was his first appearance on the bench since late October.
The young striker has made just two substitute appearances in the Championship this season and made the matchday squad just ten times.
He is not part of Farke’s plans going forward at Leeds and he desperately needs a move away from Elland Road if he wants to save his career from going to an oblivion.
West Brom are also amongst the Championship clubs who are interested in signing him on loan but there is still no deal in place as Gelhardt waits patiently to find the escape route out of Leeds.
For his sake, Leeds and his representatives must find a way to quicken his departure from Elland Road as he needs to play football to further develop but it was not meant to be this way.
Joe Gelhardt was seen as the next best thing when he joined Leeds
The striker turned heads at Wigan and was often compared with a young Wayne Rooney due to the similar physical stature he had with the England legend.
Joe Gelhardt was expected to develop rapidly under former Leeds boss Marcelo Bielsa and his fleeting appearances in the Premier League did draw high praise.
Former England and Arsenal defender Martin Keown compared him with Lionel Messi following a starring appearance from the bench against Wolves in 2021.
It appeared that the forward was lined up for big things and the Whites even loaned him out to ensure that he got the opportunity to develop through regular football.
His loan spell at Sunderland last season was not stellar with three goals in 20 appearances but he did show some of the flashes of brilliance that made him such a sought-after young talent a few years back.
With Leeds opting against signing a new striker last summer, it appeared that Gelhardt would eventually get his opportunity to impress this season in the Championship.
However, Farke has had little time for him and this season has been a complete disaster for the 22-year-old striker who has rarely got on the pitch for Leeds.
The forward needs to leave Elland Road as soon as possible
Farke’s lack of faith in the striker is clear and there is a certainty, he is not going to get many chances to impress if he is still at Leeds at the end of the winter transfer window.
However, the striker is still a highly-rated young talent in England and several clubs in the Championship are interested in signing him on loan this month – Hull now looking like his most likely destination.
West Brom have also been keeping tabs on him but Hull, who are in the market to sign a striker, seems best suited to a player who is starved of first-team opportunities.
The Tigers are eyeing signing the striker on loan and are keen to hold talks with Leeds to secure an agreement before the end of the window.
However, his departure could get delayed further due to Bamford’s injury. Leeds will only take a final call on Gelhardt after assessing the full extent of the veteran forward’s hamstring problem.
For Gelhardt’s sake, we hope Bamford’s injury is not as serious as the young striker needs a move rather than spending time in wilderness at Leeds for the rest of the season.
