Leeds United attacker Joe Gelhardt is already attracting interest ahead of the January window and Portsmouth manager John Mousinho has responded to reports his side are among those keen.
Gelhardt has played less than 10 minutes of Championship football so far this term, in what has been yet another season of him sitting on the fringes.
At best, Gelhardt is currently ninth choice attacker under Daniel Farke, with his last league start coming all the way back in August 2023.
Gelhardt did attract plenty of loan interest in the summer, but for whatever reason a deal never materialised, which is looking like a poor decision from Farke.
Farke needs to allow Gelhardt to move on loan in January and it does appear his stance has softened somewhat from the summer, with January approaching.
John Mousinho shares if Portsmouth want Leeds’ Gelhardt
Gelhardt is reported to have had around 10 clubs interested in signing him during the summer, including old firm duo Celtic and Rangers.
Championship quartet Portsmouth, Preston North End, Stoke City and Plymouth Argyle are also said to have been keen, and now the manager of the former John Mousinho has responded to speculation.
Portsmouth currently sit bottom of the Championship meaning January could well be a busy month of transfer activity if they want to remain in the division.
Gelhardt is the type of player who does have the ability to salvage Portsmouth’s season and given their struggles, it is also somewhere he would likely play regularly.
However, manager Mousinho has told The News there is ‘nothing’ in the speculation linking Gelhardt with a move to Fratton Park.
He said: “There’s nothing in that one [Gelhardt] and nothing has crossed my desk on that. He’s a fantastic player. I know he’s not been playing this season, but there’s nothing to give you on that one.”
Gelhardt receiving proposals ahead of January loan move
While Mousinho has come out and denied Portsmouth’s interest, it is unlikely he was ever going to come out and lay his cards all out on the table given the competition for his signature.
In fact, according to the Yorkshire Evening Post, Gelhardt’s camp is already fielding phone calls and proposals from potential clubs, over a month away from the window opening.
That would suggest that Farke has already softened his stance from the summer he is not available and so a move should get sorted pretty quickly upon the turn of the New Year.
Gelhardt needs to ensure he picks the club that is going to guarantee the most minutes, even if it means joining a struggling side like Pompey.
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