Sheffield United must consider cheeky Leeds United bid - Ruben Selles could be key to transfer | OneFootball

The 23-year-old thrived on loan at Hull City last season

It's looking increasingly probable that Joe Gelhardt has played his last minutes for Leeds United, with the 23-year-old likely looking for a new home ahead of the 2025/26 season.

The Wigan Athletic academy graduate has endured a tough couple of seasons at Leeds under Daniel Farke, with his only two league starts over those two years coming at the beginning of the 2023/24 season, where the Whites were undergoing a tough transition period amidst uncertainty surrounding player departures.

Gelhardt has shown flashes of quality when given regular opportunities, however, and his loan spells with Sunderland and, more recently, Hull City have led many to believe that there could be a promising future for the versatile attacker away from Elland Road.

New Sheffield United boss Ruben Selles has arrived at Bramall Lane with the side more than fine in the attacking department, but player departures and a need for squad depth in the Championship may lead him to bring in one or two extra frontmen before the transfer window ends.

And if he does, perhaps Gelhardt, who performed admirably under Selles during his loan spell at Hull last season, could be high on his list.

Joe Gelhardt performed well under Ruben Selles at Hull City - could he reunite with him at Sheffield United?

It's clear that Joe Gelhardt has an admirer in Sheffield United manager Ruben Selles. When the opportunity arose to sign the 23-year-old on loan in January, the former Hull City boss snapped at the chance, and Selles made him his second signing as the Tigers strived for Championship survival.

Going forward, Hull were uninspired last season, netting less than a goal a game and scoring the least out of all the Championship sides, but Gelhardt's creativity and will to run at defenders provided a rare bright spark in the side's attacks.

And because of this, Selles continued to put his trust in the Leeds loanee, playing him in a multitude of positions across the frontline and starting him in every game following his debut from the bench against Millwall.

So, if Sheffield United were to sure up their attacking depth this summer, bringing in someone like Gelhardt, who Selles has worked with previously and trusts to deliver on the pitch, may be a sensible decision.

Five goals in 20 games may look far from exciting in the eyes of Blades fans, but to net that many times in last season's Hull team was pretty impressive, especially given Gelhardt was there for less than half the season.

Joe Gelhardt needs to be wary of Leeds United repeat if he were to join Sheffield United

Whilst the lure of working under a former manager may attract Joe Gelhardt to Bramall Lane, the 23-year-old must prioritise a move which will allow him to progress and develop into the player many expected him to be following his unexpected breakout season for Leeds in the 2021/22 Premier League campaign.

Therefore, signing for a side that already has the likes of Tom Cannon, Tyrese Campbell and Kieffer Moore in their ranks may make it difficult for Gelhardt to fashion a permanent role in the Sheffield United starting eleven, which ultimately is the reason he's tipped to leave Leeds in the first place.

Gelhardt's positional versatility would help in that regard, as we've seen the striker operate efficiently on both wings and in an attacking midfield role, but the 23-year-old will likely want to be arriving at a club that plans on playing him in the same position week in, week out, with regular starts.

So, whilst signing for Sheffield United may increase Gelhardt's chances of becoming a Premier League player sooner, it may actually stunt his growth into becoming a top-flight level frontman.