"Go and get him" - Preston North End urged to seal Leeds United transfer | OneFootball

The 22-year-old looks set for a loan move away from Elland Road in the upcoming transfer window

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…

As another transfer window comes closer into view, it is about the time in the year where the rumours emerge about Joe Gelhardt’s future at Leeds United, and whether the forward will be leaving Elland Road in the weeks to come.

It has been the case for the last few years as the former Wigan Athletic man struggles to find his feet in Yorkshire, and true to tradition, speculation is already abounding about the 22-year-old’s next destination before November has come to an end.

An exclusive report from MOT Leeds News stated that the Whites were looking to secure a loan deal for their attacker in January, with the Yorkshire Evening Post going on to name a number of interested clubs, including the likes of Preston North End, Plymouth Argyle and Portsmouth.

With that in mind, we spoke to Football League World’s resident North End fan Darren Watson about his thoughts on the reported links to Gelhardt, and whether his side should be pursuing a deal when 2025 gets underway.

Preston North End given all clear to make Joe Gelhardt move

Alongside the trio already mentioned, Scottish Premiership side Rangers were also said to be interested in Gelhardt during the mid-season transfer window, as well as fellow Championship outfit Stoke City.

That means the Lilywhites will likely have a battle on their hands if they are to make him theirs in the new year, with the Liverpudlian likely to want to move away from Elland Road to earn more game time this season.

With just ten minutes of league action to his name this season, Gelhardt’s place in the pecking order in LS11 is clear for all to see, with just eight league starts since moving to Elland Road in 2020 speaking volumes in itself.

With the chance to start afresh elsewhere, there will be plenty of suitors ready to give him a chance for the second-half of the current campaign, and Watson would be more than happy for him to set up sticks at Deepdale before too long.

When asked on the situation surrounding the forward, the North End fan said: “The lad is obviously not getting enough game time in the Leeds side - a very, very strong Leeds side - and at 22-years-old, he is still very young in football.

“If he wants to actually play football, then we should go and get him; I think Emil Riis and Milutin Osmajic need some competition up front, and obviously Will Keane has had his injuries as well.

“I say we try and get the young lad on loan, and hopefully he can score the goals that can help us stay in the Championship this season.

“Obviously, we know where we are at the moment at it is a very rocky position, it is still early days but he is a very good player and we should go and get him and see what happens.”

Joe Gelhardt can help to address Preston North End goalscoring woes

Only two sides have scored less goals than Preston in the Championship so far this season, with Paul Heckingbottom’s side only managing 16 from their 17 league games to date.

With Osmajic having to sit out for eight games after a biting incident against Blackburn Rovers earlier in the season, the Lancashire outfit have struggled to find the back of the net on a regular basis, and have drawn a blank six times in the league already.

The Lilywhites are already relying on one Leeds United loanee to do the business in the final third at the moment, with Sam Greenwood the club’s highest scorer with four league goals, with Emil Riis next on the list with three.

Someone of Gelhardt’s ability could help North End become more of a creative outlet if he were to make the move to the north west, with his power and dynamism a great asset to have in the Championship, as was seen in his loan move to Sunderland back in the 22/23 campaign.

With six goal contributions from 18 league appearances, the forward proved just what he can do when given the chance to shine in the second tier; something he is not being afforded by Daniel Farke as Leeds chase promotion back to the Premier League.

It seems as if a fresh start is needed for the playmaker right now, and Preston would welcome him with open arms if he decided to make Deepdale his next destination.