
Leeds United loaned out Joe Gelhardt to Hull City earlier in the transfer window. The forward was struggling to get any sort of opportunities under Daniel Farke and a loan move was seen as the right choice for his career. Gelhardt hopes to rekindle his career at the MKM Stadium in the next few months and is confident that he will realise his obvious potential with more opportunities. The forward scored in Hull’s 2-1 defeat against QPR on Tuesday night and showed glimpses of the talent that many saw when he was in his teens. It is early but Leeds are already being exposed for mishandling a top young talent such as Gelhardt.
Joe Gelhardt made just two Championship appearances for Leeds this season, both from the bench, before he left the Whites to join Hull on loan in the winter transfer window.
Despite Patrick Bamford’s injuries and Mateo Joseph’s ineptitude in front of goal, the 22-year-old striker was never really given a shot by Farke as a backup option to Joel Piroe in the squad.
He remained on the fringes of the Leeds squad, and it became clear that the manager would never give him the chances he needed to prove his worth to the team.
A loan move away from Leeds was the logical choice and despite interest from other clubs, Gelhardt decided to move to the MKM Stadium with Hull earlier this month.
Hull boss Ruben Selles has been more of a fan of the forward and his goal against QPR showed that he is still talented enough to hit the back of the net in the Championship, which further makes his treatment at Leeds baffling.
Joe Gelhardt can really embarrass Leeds United and Daniel Farke
Gelhardt seemed destined for big things when he was shining in the Premier League with Leeds and drew comparisons with Lionel Messi because of his talent.
However, the striker has struggled since Leeds’s relegation, and even a loan stint at Sunderland did little to ensure he gets more opportunities at Elland Road.
When Leeds didn’t sign another striker last summer, it seemed the forward would get more opportunities this season but Fark remained unimpressed by the forward.
Mateo Joseph has scored just twice this season and Bamford has struggled with fitness but Gelhardt was never seen as the backup to Joel Piroe this term.
Gelhardt looked good in his substitute appearance for Hull against Millwall at the weekend and started and scored against QPR despite the home side’s defeat at the MKM Stadium on Tuesday night.
Hull boss Selles has already identified the ideal position for Gelhardt in his team and the club expect him to make an impact during his loan stint.
Leeds do not seem like they will sign a forward despite a clamour from the fans. The Whites are banking on Joel Piroe to remain fit and the rest of the players to keep chipping in with goals.
However, if Piroe gets sidelined, the goals dry up at the business end of the season and Gelhardt keeps scoring for Hull, it would seriously embarrass Leeds and their manager.
Will Leeds revisit Gelhardt’s future in the summer?
Gelhardt is scheduled to return to Leeds in the summer where he still has a contract until 2027 and is widely expected to get sold at the end of the season.
Hull do not have an option to buy in the loan agreement with Leeds but the club are likely to try and sign him on a permanent deal if he continues to impress during his loan spell at the MKM Stadium.
Leeds hope to be in the Premier League next season but that could play a role in what they want to do with Gelhardt in the summer transfer window.
However, if he continues to make an impact, Farke could be forced to consider whether to give the forward a chance to impress at Elland Road next season.
But given the way the Leeds boss has treated Gelhardt, it’s unlikely he would want to play under the German and would likely push for a permanent move away from Elland Road.
