All eyes are on Leeds United’s pursuit of promotion and a win against Portsmouth on Sunday will see The Whites begin a crucial week with their three-point lead intact.
With promotion looking like a real possibility, Leeds will be planning for a summer influx of new talent. In order to do so, room will need to be made and a number of players will be offloaded to bring in cash.
Rasmus Kristensen will join Frankfurt while Max Wober is expected to go. Jack Harrison is the subject of talks with MLS clubs and Graham Smyth thinks Patrick Bamford will end his seven-year stay this summer.
Another player likely to be pursuing an Elland Road exit this summer is Joe Gelhardt, who joined Hull City in January on loan. It is the striker’s second loan spell away from Elland Road in the last two years.
Lee Hendrie urges Joe Gelhardt to leave Leeds United in summer
Gelhardt has certainly impressed since joining Hull, scoring a stunning goal in a 2-1 loss to QPR and then in the week, the striker slammed home the first of two goals in a victory over relegation rivals Plymouth.
Gelhardt has been given the no.10 role in the last couple of games by manager Ruben Selles and now, Lee Hendrie has told FLW that Gelhardt should look to leave Leeds, especially if Leeds are promoted.
“He has got to leave, and try and find himself somewhere where he can play more and find a bit of a home for himself. Whether it’s Hull, I’m not sure, but certainly he has to think about leaving Leeds.
“They’re looking like they are going to go into the Premier League, so I think it’ll be time for him maybe that he has to find a home, somewhere where he can establish his career and kick on,” Hendrie said.
The issue that could prevent Joe Gelhardt’s summer exit
These days, the large majority of players move on when they find themselves in the final year of their contracts. But for Gelhardt, he will return to Leeds from his loan at Hull with two years still left to run.
It is down to Leeds. The 49ers are under no pressure to sell Gelhardt, a player that Daniel Farke has praised for his attitude. Leeds will know that Gelhardt will still give his all if they choose to keep him.
But his contract means that Leeds do not have to sell him on the cheap and with Championship clubs likely to be after him, they could be asked to pay a fee they deem too expensive this summer.
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