Interest in Leeds United forward Joe Gelhardt has continued to rise, with fellow Championship side Queens Park Rangers setting up for a move for the Leeds man.
The Whites do not appear to be a Championship team much longer after their playoff final heartbreak last season. Daniel Farke’s side are well in the mix with Sunderland, Burnley and Sheffield United and currently hold the advantage.
As they sit at the top of the pyramid and hope to hold on going into Christmas, they will be looking to their January transfer window.
Leeds forward of interest to multiple clubs.
Forward Joe Gelhardt could be headed out the exit door at Elland Road this January after he has been persistently linked with a move. Scottish giants Rangers were linked to make a move last January, but nothing amounted of that interest despite the side remaining interested.
With Gelhardt looking unlikely to break into the team at Leeds United, a move is likely, whether that be permanent or a loan, is unclear. According to Football Insider, fellow Championship side Queens Park Rangers have joined the mix for the striker, who has plenty of experience in the second tier.
The side are embroiled deep in the relegation fight and have just a one-point advantage over the teams in the drop zone. Owing to that, they have only scored 18 goals this season, and only the teams in that relegation zone have scored fewer.
Gelhardt’s place at Leeds United.
The 22-year-old finds himself down the pecking order at Elland Road, with Joel Piroe ahead of him in the ranks as first choice. Mateo Joseph and Leeds favourite Patrick Bamford are also ahead of him, leaving little room for a path into the first team set up for him.
At the moment, it seems a move would be of great benefit to Gelhardt, who has already headed out on loan once, playing a vital part in Tony Mowbray’s Sunderland side. That move gave him regular playing time as he made 20 appearances for the Black Cats, contributing to six goals, but it has still failed to convince anyone at Elland Road.
While a move to a side like Rangers could be promising, given their European status, that could be a factor that places considerable pressure on a player like Gelhardt. The 22-year-old would benefit more from a move to West London, where he could play a part in turning their goalscoring form around and help guide them away from the wrong end of the table. That move would most likely be a loan move, but the way the trend has continued for the forward at Leeds, it would be wise to start considering a permanent move due to his lack of playing time.
