Leeds striker Joe Gelhardt sends goodbye message – ‘Thank you’
Joe Gelhardt is facing an uncertain future at Leeds United.
The 23-year-old striker is behind the likes of Joel Piroe and Mateo Joseph in the pecking order and was loaned to Hull City for the second half of the season.
Daniel Farke’s side are in the market for a new attacker after securing promotion to the Premier League, with Everton striker Beto being linked with a big-money move to Yorkshire, so it is unlikely that the former Wigan Athletic man will be handed a chance.
Gelhardt sends thank-you message away from Leeds
The Elland Road ace starred at Hull, notching five goals in 20 appearances, to help keep them in the Championship on the final day.
He had featured for just nine minutes for Farke’s side before making the temporary switch to the MKM Stadium, where he played 1,600 minutes.
Speaking to Hull Live (30 May), the Whites forward reflected on his loan spell, saying: “I just look back at it with good memories and good people that I’ve met along the way.
“I’ve enjoyed every single minute that I’ve been here. The wins are even better when you’ve had a few losses as well, so just happiness and good memories.
“It’s been good. I’ve enjoyed my football so much here, the lads, the staff and the fans, just the club in general. I love it here, so thanks to the manager for trusting me and getting me to enjoy my football.”
Leeds need to allow Gelhardt to move on
It has not worked out for the Liverpool-born forward since his 2020 move to the Peacocks, he has been unable to find a consistent place in the first-team fold.
That does not seem like changing anytime soon, as the Whites prepare to return to the top-flight for the first time since the 2022-23 campaign.
Allowing Gelhardt to leave for a decent fee, could recoup funds for the huge business that Farke will attempt to pull off this summer, to sign established elite stars and increase his side’s chances of staying up.
A departure suits both parties, the player can thrive somewhere else and get regular first-team football, while the Yorkshire outfit can reinvest the funds on someone who will actually play and potentially help their survival bid.
Any future arrivals will block his path to a starting role even further, so an exit is the most likely solution, as he will not want to be a fourth-string striker or leave on another loan deal.
A Championship club could take him off Leeds‘ hands, given his impressive form at Hull and Farke’s refusal to give him minutes.