Joe Gelhardt transfer: Hull City close in on Leeds United agreement
Hull City are leading the race to sign Joe Gelhardt from Leeds United on loan for the rest of the season, according to the Hull Daily Mail.
The outlet reported on 7 January that while the Tigers face competition from several clubs in England and Scotland for the 22-year-old, Gelhardt is keen on making the move to East Yorkshire.
Sources at Elland Road have said that Gelhardt’s preference is to join United’s Championship rivals, with the Whites ready to sanction a move once the full extent of Patrick Bamford’s hamstring injury is clear.
With that decision set to be made before the end of this week, Gelhardt could head to the MKM Stadium – where Daniel Farke’s side drew 3-3 on Saturday – in time for Sunday’s FA Cup tie against Doncaster.
Joe Gelhardt exit the best move for all parties at Leeds United
Billed as the next big thing at Elland Road – and potentially in the entire Premier League – following his breakthrough season in 2021/22, things haven’t entirely come to pass for Gelhardt in the years since.
Neither he nor the Peacocks now ply their trade in the top tier and as desperation levels have increased in LS11, first to stay up and now to be promoted once again, Gelhardt has been pushed to the periphery.
As a result, the forward’s development has been left to wither on the vine, going on loan to Sunderland for the second half of the doomed 2022-23 season and hardly being given a kick in the white shirt since.
Gelhardt has made a meagre 12 league appearances since United’s relegation, including only two starts, and therefore it’s no surprise whatsoever that the 22-year-old is craving a crack at first-team football.
Arguably the biggest example of how potential has been wasted in West Yorkshire since Marcelo Bielsa’s departure, heading east could be the making of Gelhardt as he looks to rediscover his early-career form.
In other Leeds news, Elland Road sources have called selling one of the club’s star players last summer a “blessing in disguise”.
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