Daniel Farke to make Joe Gelhardt loan decision as Leeds United priority shared
Daniel Farke is unlikely to stand in the way of Joe Gelhardt leaving on loan but his priority is to make sure he has enough cover as Leeds United seek promotion, Carlton Palmer has said.
The 22-year-old striker has made just three appearances for the Whites this season, playing just nine minutes in the Championship as the West Yorkshire club sit at the top of the league table.
Scottish giants Rangers are reportedly among the clubs interested in taking Gelhardt on loan (Yorkshire Evening Post) and Palmer - speaking to Football League World [29 November] - thinks a temporary stint away would be beneficial.
"Joe Gelhardt, the young Leeds United centre-forward, has had very limited game time at Elland Road under Daniel Farke, so it makes sense that they allow him to go out on loan in January," he said.
"I don't believe that Daniel Farke will stand in his way, he has Joel Piroe, Patrick Bamford and Mateo Joseph in front of him in the pecking order at Elland Road, but he has stated that his priority is to get the club promoted and, unfortunately, players who haven't been allowed to go out on loan have to stay in the building in case they pick up injuries."
Joe Gelhardt needs more game time away from Leeds United
Leeds are in a tricky situation at the moment, with Farke dealing with several injury issues over the course of the 2024/25 campaign.
Considering the lack of depth in the squad, the Elland Road faithful would be wary of letting a player depart in the upcoming transfer window.
The Whites had to scramble and sign Josuha Guilavogui on a free transfer recently after the fitness issues that Ethan Ampadu and Ilia Gruev have suffered.
While Joe Rothwell and Ao Tanaka have covered well in the engine room, things could've been different had Farke not had reliable backups.
In the attack, the German head coach has tried all sorts of experiments, playing Joel Piroe or Mateo Joseph as the number nine, with Patrick Bamford — who might want to have a few words with the head coach — mostly sitting on the bench
While the Peacocks have enough numbers in the attack, injuries are unpredictable, but if the West Yorkshire club want Gelhardt to make progress, then sending him out on loan would be the best option.
In other Leeds United news, the Whites are set to rival Manchester United for an SPFL prospect.
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