Leeds United are still yet to make a breakthrough in talks to sign Norwich City’s Jonathan Rowe.
With it now almost two weeks since Crysencio Summerville agreed his move to West Ham United, Leeds do not appear to be particularly close to finding his replacement.
Rowe and Crystal Palace’s Jesurun Rak-Sakyi are the two players who emerged as Leeds’ top targets, though the latter has all but sealed a move to Sheffield United.
That leaves Rowe as the only name in the public domain Leeds are actively working on, with plenty of work required for them to meet Norwich’s asking price.
Leeds’ competitors for Rowe Marseille are said to have deemed a deal too expensive, and while in theory that should make it easier, it is all about coming up with a package suitable for Norwich.
Leeds should try include Joe Gelhardt in Rowe deal
It has been rumoured that Norwich’s valuation for Rowe is somewhere in the region of £15 million, though the events of the weekend may change that.
Rowe has been sent to train with the U21s after deciding he was not in the right frame of mind to play against Oxford United, which ultimately leaves Norwich with an unhappy player.
Pink Un journalist Connor Southwell has suggested there is quite clearly a deal to be done for Rowe, and Leeds may need to be clever to come up with one that doesn’t break the bank.
With that in mind, Leeds should consider including Joe Gelhardt in a cash plus player swap deal, with minutes again looking like they could be difficult to come by.
Gelhardt is someone who can cover a range of positions across the frontline and given that Adam Idah is also on the verge of an exit, he could certainly prove a useful asset for Norwich.
Not only would it give Norwich a ready-made player for this level, it would also help Leeds bring the price down, and hand the ‘magic‘ Gelhardt a place where he can go play regular football.
The 21-year-old has lost his way a bit somewhat over the last couple of seasons, but is quite clearly a very talented player who just needs to find his best position, and a club who will play him there.
- READ MORE: Leeds United may have given a sign that £8.5m player could still leave Elland Road this summer
Gelhardt deserves move regardless of Rowe deal
While of course including Gelhardt in a deal for Rowe could benefit Leeds, there is no guarantee he would want the move anyway.
However, Saturday’s match against Portsmouth was yet another clear indication Gelhardt is someway down the pecking order at Leeds, and he deserves a move.
Leeds already have one of the smallest squads in terms of depth but ultimately, that is not Gelhardt’s fault and he is at the stage of his career where he needs to go and play regularly.
Whether it’s on loan or permanent, Leeds need to be doing everything they can to ensure Gelhardt can go and progress his career.
Receive a digest of our best Leeds content each week direct to your mailbox
