Leeds United hierarchy break silence on Elland Road outgoings as Wigan, Sunderland, Swansea & more await transfer green light | OneFootball

Wigan Athletic are still waiting on a decision regarding Joe Gelhardt’s immediate future at Leeds United, as the Championship strugglers plot to bring the striker back to the DW Stadium on loan.

There has been hope offered in the last 24 hours, though, with Angus Kinnear – Leeds’ CEO – coyly suggesting a loan is on the cards for the 20-year-old now at Elland Road.

Football League World reported last week that the power had been placed into Gelhardt’s hands with regards to his future, with Wigan, Swansea City, Sunderland, Blackburn Rovers and Hull City amongst some of the clubs named in the pursuit of the England youth international. It’s thought that over half the Championship want to strike a deal with Leeds to sign Gelhardt on loan.

Wigan appear to be in the driving seat, according to The Athletic, although things haven’t appeared to develop over the weekend, with Gelhardt an unused substitute for Leeds on Sunday afternoon as they drew 0-0 with Brentford in the Premier League.

However, publishing comments in his pre-match programme notes, Kinnear suggested that a striker could well be heading out of Elland Road on loan, writing: “(Georginio) Rutter’s arrival will mean that we will be looking to make some outbound loans before the end of the transfer window. We believe that being more active in loaning out our emerging talent will be important in ultimately accelerating their ability to contribute to our first team.

“Harry Kane had four different loan spells before he became England’s best striker and Championship experience is a significant step up from competing in Premier League 2.”

Rutter was an unused substitute with Gelhardt yesterday, with Jesse Marsch starting with Rodrigo and using Patrick Bamford from the bench in Leeds’ stalemate with Brentford.

Quiz: Are these 20 Wigan Athletic facts real or fake?

1 of 20

1. Wigan was formed more than 100 years ago

Real Fake

The Verdict

Gelhardt looks like he will get his loan into the Championship eventually this month, with Leeds seemingly very open to giving the 20-year-old the exposure that his talent deserves.

The question is more a case of where is he going to end up?

Whilst Wigan are in the driving seat, according to reports, there’s a lot to prove to Leeds, who are wanting to make this loan really worthwhile.

Game-time needs to be promised and the environment he’s heading into needs to be inch-perfect to really let him thrive. Financially, it’s also got to make sense.

Thoughts? Let us know!