£15k-a-week Leeds United man bound for inevitable Elland Road exit: View | OneFootball

Joe Gelhardt arrived at Leeds United as a highly-rated 18-year-old in August 2020, but after four seasons with the club, Premier League promotion next Sunday could see an end to his career at Elland Road.

Gelhardt came through Wigan Athletic's academy to make his senior debut at just 16 in an EFL Cup defeat to Rotherham United in August 2018.

He made 21 appearances in two seasons at the DW Stadium and even netted his first senior goal, an equaliser against Hull City in the Championship, before making a reported £1 million move to Leeds, according to the Yorkshire Evening Post.

After signing a four-year contract with the Whites, he said: "I'm made up, it's a massive club."

After starring for Leeds' U21 in the Premier League 2's 2020/21 campaign, he was given a chance at a run of appearances in the first team the following season and impressed with two goals and two assists in just 732 minutes, but has seen his minutes decrease in the seasons since.

With the forward earning a reported £15,000 per week, according to Capology estimates, seemingly more than key starters Joe Rodon and Archie Gray, the club could be keen to take his wages off the books if they return to the Premier League with a victory in the play-off final against Southampton.

Premier League promotion could spell the end of Gelhardt at Leeds

Declining minutes in the seasons following Gelhardt's breakthrough in Yorkshire have stunted the talented former England Youth international's development.

The forward was shipped out on loan to Sunderland in the 2022/23 season, where he recorded a respectable three goals and three assists in 16 second-tier matches.

Leeds' relegation to the Championship in the following season did little to help his first-team minutes, despite the 22-year-old proving himself at that level during the previous term.

After just ten league appearances this season, it looks highly unlikely that he will be given another shot at top-flight football if the Yorkshire club win promotion. Even if they are defeated by Southampton in the play-off final, it seems that Gelhardt must move on in search of more football next season.

Gelhardt has fallen down the striker pecking order at Leeds

Gelhardt appeared to have entered the season as Leeds' third-choice striker behind Georginio Rutter and Patrick Bamford, but his chances at first-team football were dealt a hit when the club paid more than £10 million for Swansea City striker Joël Piroe, according to the BBC.

Moreover, Mateo Joseph's introduction from the Leeds U21 provided more competition for the centre-forward spot. If Leeds go up, the likelihood is that it's one of that four firing them into the Premier League and will, therefore, have their chance next year.

Gelhardt is an undoubtedly talented footballer with a big career ahead of him, but his senior-level performances have not quite lived up to that promise so far.

At 22, he is still young and possesses great potential. A move away from Elland Road could be fantastic for his development should any clubs be willing to take a punt on him in the summer transfer window.

There has previously been interest in the forward from ambitious Hull City, according to the Sun, and Ipswich Town, according to TeamTalk. A move to either will hopefully reignite his young career and, who knows, if it is the latter that make their move, they can give Gelhardt the chance to perform at a level he's shown promise at before, thinking back to his early promise in a Leeds shirt.