Joe Gelhardt included in list of six ‘failing’ Leeds United stars who need January exits
Beren Cross has included Joe Gelhardt on a list of six “failing” Leeds United players who should be looking to leave Elland Road this January.
The Leeds Live journalist wrote on Saturday (14 October) that Gelhardt, Kristoffer Klaesson, Mateo Joseph, Lewis Bate, Leo Hjelde and Darko Gyabi should all be considering exits when the transfer window opens again after “failing to turn [Daniel] Farke’s head.”
Only one of Gelhardt or Joseph is expected to be allowed to leave, with the other providing cover as the backup option to Farke’s frontline and the former Sunderland loanee’s need for regular first-team football is greater than Joseph’s currently.
Discussing the other player’s position, Cross suggested that it “makes little sense” for Klaesson to remain at Elland Road after Karl Darlow’s arrival, while a loan or permanent exit is “highly likely” when the new year rolls around.
Gyabi has failed to make much of a mark since making the switch from Manchester City and a January loan would allow the Whites “a little more time to make their mind up” before his contract expires in 2026. Cross also believes a Championship loan would be the best solution for Hjelde unless Sam Byram and Junior Firpo “are laid low going into January.”
Spare parts
Competition for places at Elland Road is incredibly fierce given the summer’s recruitment drive and there are now several players who are seemingly spare parts in Farke’s quest for promotion, as the German doesn’t particularly like to alter his team too frequently.
Loan exits seem to be the best solution for a number of players, as it offers them the chance to rediscover their form with regular minutes, while also ensuring that the Whites still hold all the cards in terms of the players’ futures after their temporary spell away.
The one player that a loan exit doesn’t seem to make much sense for is Hjelde as it is abundantly clear that Farke is not keen on the Norwegian left-back. After his disaster on the opening weekend against Cardiff he hasn’t played again in the Championship and a permanent exit may well be his and Leeds’ best option.
Freeing up some funds through either permanent or loan exits could give Leeds United a bit more money to spend in the January transfer window and Farke may be able to add the final pieces of quality to their side to ensure that they are capable of returning to the Premier League.
In other Leeds United news, it looks like Bielsa was wrong about Brendon Aaronson after the German media slammed his start to the season