Joe Gelhardt is catching the eye on loan at Hull City(Image: Zach Forster/MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Leeds United will wait until the end of the season to sell Joe Gelhardt after opting against trying to push through a January move. The 23-year-old forward is currently on a season-long loan deal at Championship promotion hopefuls Hull City and has enjoyed the best season of his career to date.
Gelhardt hasn’t played since limping out of a Hull City home defeat to Middlesbrough at the beginning of December, but prior to his absence he had notched 10 goals in an impressive campaign. He is set to make his return to the Hull team this evening in their Championship match at Preston North End as he gets his season up and running once more.
While the player expected to stay at the MKM Stadium for the season, Leeds held the option of a recall in January, but that option ended at the weekend as part of the loan agreement and now the player cannot be recalled by the Whites.
Despite his impressive form, Leeds had no intention of ever recalling Gelhardt to play for the first team in the Premier League, but a return to facilitate a potential sale could have happened if a suitable deal emerged. Gelhardt’s inactivity and injury appeared to end any chances of that happening this month, with the player now due to return to the Whites at the end of this season.
Hull have ambitions of keeping Gelhardt, but a transfer embargo needs to be navigated this summer and the necessary funds found, with Leeds set to get a boost to their PSR position by selling a former academy player for pure profit this summer.
Under contract until the summer of 2027, Leeds could keep Gelhardt next season but both parties appear happy to move on, with a sale a win for both player and club.
