Wayne Rooney was given his marching orders by Plymouth Argyle on New Year’s Eve as his dismal run as manager left Plymouth rock-bottom – and now it could affect a Leeds United player.
Rooney’s Plymouth managed just 18 points from 23 Championship matches and it led to England’s top scorer getting the boot from the Argyle board. But his sacking now has ramifications for one Leeds man.
There are a number of players being linked with the exit door at Elland Road this month. Max Wober is eyed by his old side Salzburg, while Illan Meslier is said to have attracted the likes of Arsenal and Rennes.
Elsewhere, Junior Firpo, Pascal Struijk, Patrick Bamford and other Leeds players are being linked with new clubs this month. Another is Joe Gelhardt, with Gelhardt keen on a move away from Leeds this month.
Wayne Rooney’s sacking leaves Leeds star Joe Gelhardt in limbo
The 22-year-old striker was actually on the Leeds bench for the first time in more than two months on Saturday at Hull, with Patrick Bamford suffering a hamstring injury but he remained an unused substitute.
Gelhardt has plenty of interest from other Championship clubs. Sam Greenwood’s Preston want Gelhardt while others like QPR, Stoke and Scottish side Rangers have also been linked with a move for the forward.
But it appears Plymouth were pushing for Gelhardt above all. The Sun’s Alan Nixon reports on his Patreon channel that Rooney’s sacking has put Gelhardt’s move to Plymouth in doubt over the next few weeks.
Joe Gelhardt should still consider Plymouth, without Rooney
Nixon reports that Gelhardt was considering Plymouth because of the chance to work under Rooney. But now he is reconsidering that move given Rooney’s sacking – but is that the right move from Gelhardt?
Surely, Gelhardt needs to show all involved that he is still a player of Championship quality. But he has fallen off a cliff and the chances of actually earning a move to a second-tier club is quickly diminishing.
Despite Rooney’s sacking, Gelhardt still needs to consider a move to Plymouth. Especially as moves to the likes of Stoke or Rangers would see him struggle for game time given the options they have up front.
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