Leeds United could allow attacking ace to leave Elland Road on Transfer Deadline Day
Leeds United could decide to allow Joe Gelhardt to leave the club before the transfer deadline if attacking additions are secured, according to the Yorkshire Evening Post.
Graham Smyth reported for the paper’s website on 30 August that the 22-year-old forward may depart on loan before 11pm to get minutes elsewhere.
Ao Tanaka’s arrival has been confirmed to strengthen the midfield in time to face Hull City and Isaac Schmidt is on his way in as full-back cover [Sky Sports, 30 August].
But the Whites are hoping to potentially add further attacking reinforcements before the deadline despite securing Largie Ramazani and Manor Solomon late in the window, which could push Gelhardt further to the fringes.
Joe Gelhardt needs Leeds United move anyway
Even with Georginio Rutter leaving there is a strong argument that Gelhardt’s future should be away from Elland Road as well.
Daniel Farke has barely seen the former Wigan man as a reserve option in his time at the club and gave him only a handfull of minutes off the bench in the Championship last term once the transfer window was closed.
There was so much excitement around ‘Joffy’ when he was having a major impact as a teenager in cameos under Jesse Marsch but that seems a long time ago now.
Since the end of the 2021/22 season he has played more minutes for Sunderland during a half-season on loan in the North East than he has for Leeds in total, while scoring just once for the Whites first team in that time.
Mateo Joseph has gone past him in the picking order at striker and it looks like further recruits will only push him further down, while Patrick Bamford doesn’t look like to be going anywhere in the near future.
Barring a major injury crisis at Elland Road, which is never out of the question, it is difficult to see how things will improve for Gelhardt so even a permanent exit might make more sense before the deadline.
In other Leeds United news, a potential game-changer of a signing has agreed personal terms over a move.
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