Leeds United should allow 21-year-old to leave on loan in January, his development is being wasted

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Daniel Farke is reportedly keen to ensure no one leaves Leeds United in the January transfer window, including fringe players.

Farke wants to keep the entire squad together as Leeds look to make a push for automatic promotion in the second half of the season, but that may not be the wisest decision.

Leeds have a number of players who have not even been able to get on the bench recently and have already started attracting loan interest ahead of the window re-opening.

One of them includes Joe Gelhardt, who has not played a single minute since the shortest of cameo appearances in the 3-0 win at Millwall back in September.

Hull City and Huddersfield Town are among the sides said to be keen on signing him on loan, and a move to either of those clubs may well be what his career needs after a difficult few months.

Leeds are wasting Gelhardt’s career

Gelhardt currently has a number of in-form players ahead of him for a place in Leeds’ front four, which means he simply isn’t getting a look-in.

Unfortunately, the 21-year-old is just not at the same level as any of those players, and so with that in mind, there is little sense in keeping him at Elland Road for the rest of the season to do nothing.

Gelhardt is never going to develop into the player he once promised to be this time two years ago without regular game time. He hasn’t ever had a regular run of starts at Leeds.

Regardless of what happens this season, it would appear the chances of Gelhardt having a future at Leeds are pretty slim, and so a permanent sale in the summer is likely.

The only way Leeds could bring in a fee reflecting the potential he once had is by going to re-find his form elsewhere on loan and so that is exactly what should be done. It could also open up space for a proper number 10 to come in.