Leeds United star must escape Elland Road despite contract until 2027: View | OneFootball

The former Wigan Athletic forward has been a forgotten man at Elland Road, and needs to move away to benefit his career

This summer has already seen plenty of transfer activity at Leeds United, with the Whites needing to balance the books according to EFL financial regulations.

The Daily Mail reported earlier this year that the Yorkshire outfit would have to raise up to £100 million in player sales to adhere to the Football League’s spending rules, with exits from Elland Road already underway.

Archie Gray is the most high-profile of the departures so far this summer, with the teenage sensation joining Premier League outfit Tottenham Hotspur, with Joe Rodon going in the other direction after a successful loan spell in the previous campaign.

Amid all the chaos in LS11, one player should be doing all he can to get away from Elland Road this summer, with things having not gone to plan since moving to the club four years ago.

Joe Gelhardt needs to secure move away from Leeds United to resurrect career

Much was made of Joe Gelhardt’s move to Yorkshire in the summer of 2020, with the highly-touted Wigan Athletic star moving to the club for a reported £1.1 million fee as an 18-year-old.

But since making the switch, the young star has had very much a watching brief during his time with the Whites, with just eight league starts for the club over the previous four seasons.

The frontman was forced to live off scraps during life in the Premier League, with a flutter of cameo appearances leaving United fans salivating at what more was to come from the elusive young talent.

A late strike against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in the 21/22 campaign saw the young star notch his first goal for the club, before his crowning moment came in a 2-1 victory over Norwich City later in the campaign, as he fired in a late winner to secure all three points for his side.

A loan move to Sunderland in the second-half of the 22/23 campaign seemed to revitalise the attacking outlet, as he scored three times for the Black Cats on their journey to the playoff semi-finals, and looked to be back to playing football with a smile on his face.

It was the same old story after returning to Leeds last summer though, with opportunities proving to be even more limited despite United dropping back down into the second tier.

With ten goalless Championship appearances to his name in the past 12 months, Gelhardt’s stock continues to drop while he rots away on the bench at Elland Road, and a move away this summer is what he needs to avoid his whole career stagnating.

Ipswich Town, Celtic among clubs to show Joe Gelhardt transfer interest in the past

Despite his lack of game time over recent seasons, those within the game still realise the potential Gelhardt has if he was just given minutes on the pitch, with Championship sides said to be monitoring him in the previous campaign.

Eventual promotion-winners Ipswich Town were reported to be interested in a switch for the frontman last summer, although Daniel Farke was said to have rebuffed the deal after Sam Greenwood departed for Middlesbrough.

After seemingly being assured of a place in the German’s first-team plans, Gelhardt must have been miffed by his lack of first-team opportunities as the season progressed, and will be looking to make the right move for his career this summer.

Alan Nixon reported that Scottish giants Celtic were keen on his signature in January, while West Bromwich Albion were also said to have an interest, according to the Yorkshire Post.

It seems like were he given the green light for a move away this summer, he won’t be short of offers, and Leeds’ financial situation could play into his hands as he looks to move away from Yorkshire in search of a fresh break.