Credit: Imago

Declan Carr

Sat 7 March 2026 14:25, UK

Leeds United will be shaking their heads watching Joe Gelhardt’s development on loan with Hull City.

Gelhardt has never really stood out when he has been given a chance in the Elland Road first team, with three goals and seven assists in 57 matches.

However, he has been shining in the Championship with the Tigers in the last two seasons, scoring a total of 17 goals.

He notched his 12th of the current campaign in Hull’s 3-1 loss to Millwall, leaving Leeds in a bind over Gelhardt’s potential exit.

Why should Leeds be rethinking Gelhardt’s exit?

Leeds reportedly want a fee between £3-5million for Gelhardt, but that seems far too cheap given his recent exploits.

The fact that he is now up to 12 goals in the second-tier should force a rethink from the 49ers Enterprises and recruitment chiefs.

Surely they can get more money for the young forward, if he is not going to be utilised in LS11 and needs to quit with one year left on his contract when he returns.

Leeds need to demand much more for Gelhardt deal

Leeds hold some of the cards when it comes to a potential exit for the Liverpool-born ace, as he is still contracted until the end of next season.

They cannot let Hull, or another interested party, pick up the young forward for a minimal fee, like the one that has been suggested.

Strikers who can score regularly in the Championship come at a premium, and the Whites need to force suitors to pay top dollar, rather than accepting a bargain deal.

Anything less than at least £5m seems like a robbery, considering how good Gelhardt has been performing over the last season and a half.

The record fee for a Championship signing is the £17m that Ipswich paid for Sindre Walle Egeli in August 2025, and while that seems excessive, the Peacocks must push for at least £10m given what the young striker can bring to a team.

Gelhardt is still far away from his prime too, so he could develop into a deadly forward who can hit over 20 goals in the division, so the potential alone surely takes the fee up.