The January transfer window is just around the corner. And for one Leeds United player in particular, it looks set to be the window where he finally moves on.
Leeds United’s January plans seem somewhat unclear as thigs stand, with the club not looking like they need too many additions given their strong recent form.
There’s also the likes of Ethan Ampadu returning from injury and the likes of Junior Firpo set to return for Leeds in January as well.
To add to that, Daniel Farke played down the chances of Leeds United being active in January and so the upcoming winter window might be a quiet one in terms of players arriving at Elland Road.
But there could well be some who leave Elland Road, especially within the club’s attacking department with Patrick Bamford tipped to be up for sale having made just seven league appearances so far this season.
Joe Gelhardt is another, and the Leeds youngster may have already played his last game for the Whites.
Joe Gelhardt nailed on to leave Leeds United in January with interest growing
The 22-year-old joined Leeds United from Wigan ahead of the 2020/21 season. Since, however, the striker has featured just 57 times for Leeds’ first-team in all competitions, with a disappointing return of three goals and five assists.
Ahead of January, it’s been revealed that QPR want to sign Gelhardt on a permanent deal but that they can’t currently afford the striker.
Having featured just twice in the Championship this season, with injury having kept him sidelined since October, Gelhardt has been tipped to leave Leeds United in January, but the Whites are said to want a decent fee for the Englishman.
Either way, with Gelhardt nursing a hip injury and finding himself painfully low down in the pecking order; whether he leaves in January or not, there’s a big chance that he’s not going to play for the club again.
- READ MORE: Leeds United legend reveals what James Milner was really like behind the scenes at Thorp Arch
Joe Gelhardt has failed to meet Daniel Farke’s call to action
Speaking in August 2023 after Gelhardt had scored for Leeds in the Carabao Cup against Shrewsbury Town, Farke laid out his ambitions for the striker.
Farke told Gelhardt that he needed to step up the ante with Leeds and work his way into his first-team plans.
The German explained: “He needs to step it up. But what I like, is he puts a shift in. It was not a gorgeous goal, but it was a goal of will – just to be there.
“A goal is a goal, it is good for his confidence. He’s a good lad, and he’s working unbelievably hard.”
Fast-forward to now though and Gelhardt has been unable to live up to the hype. A January move surely beckons, with interesting mounting, but it depends on how much Leeds want for his services having paid Wigan £1.1million for him in 2020.
Receive a digest of our best Leeds content each week direct to your mailbox
