"Uncertainty around Tom Cannon" - Pundit urges Stoke City to beat Rangers FC to Leeds United man | OneFootball

Carlton Palmer spoke exclusively to Football League World about Stoke City's reported transfer interest in Leeds United forward Joe Gelhardt

Carlton Palmer has encouraged Stoke City to act upon their reported interest and get a deal over the line in January for Leeds United's Joe Gelhardt, who could be a replacement for Tom Cannon amid uncertainty surrounding the future of the Leicester City loanee.

Stoke have found fair form under the tuition of Narcis Pelach, who has currently lost just three of his 12 league games in charge after replacing Steven Schumacher back in September. The Potters are unbeaten in their last five outings, although three of them have ended in a tie as they continue to struggle in converting some of those draws into wins.

Nonetheless, a real positive of the Pelach era thus far is coming in the form of Cannon, who has scored seven goals in 13 Championship appearances since the Spaniard's appointment. Stoke pulled off something of a coup to land the young striker on loan from Leicester in the summer but he could return to the King Power Stadium prematurely in what would be an undoubted blow.

According to the Yorkshire Evening Post, Gelhardt is the subject of significant loan interest ahead of the January window after continuing to find himself out of favour at Elland Road.

The report claims that the likes of Rangers, Plymouth, Preston North End and two undisclosed Belgian clubs are alongside the Potters in remaining interested in exploring a January loan deal after being snubbed by Leeds in the summer, and Gelhardt himself is said to be enthusiastic about the prospect of sealing a temporary switch away from West Yorkshire.

Tom Cannon's Stoke City situation amid Leicester City recall threat

As per a previous report from The Sun's Alan Nixon - via his exclusive Patreon service - Leicester have the option to prematurely recall Cannon from his loan deal in Staffordshire, which they are reportedly intent on doing in order to strike a loan-to-buy deal with another club.

It has been said that Leicester are looking to raise £10 million for Cannon's signature, which would represent a profit on the reported £7 million outlay they paid to Everton in the summer of 2023.

The Republic of Ireland international was handed a bit-part role in Leicester's title-winning promotion campaign last time out before being deemed surplus to requirements and made available for loan by former boss Steve Cooper, who has since been sacked and is poised to be replaced by Ruud Van Nistelrooy.

That, admittedly, does create a degree of uncertainty around his situation and it's likely that the Dutchman will spend time running the rule over Cannon, although Leicester's recall option is always going to leave Stoke sweating and they would do well to keep replacements under consideration.

Carlton Palmer tells Stoke City to sign Leeds United's Joe Gelhardt amid Tom Cannon uncertainty

With the unclear picture on Cannon's future at present, Palmer has encouraged Stoke to get a deal over the line for Gelhardt, who looks likely to leave Leeds on loan in January and would represent a like-for-like replacement for the Irishman.

"Stoke City have also registered an interest in Leeds United's Joe Gelhardt," Palmer exclusively told Football League World.

"It looks inevitable that he's going to be leaving the club in January, I don't see it on a permanent transfer because he's got a really bright future ahead of him. He's a talented player but he hasn't had much of a look in this season, I don't know if that's because Daniel Farke doesn't rate him or not.

"With the uncertainty around Tom Cannon, with Leicester City saying they may recall him and sell him - you never know with the new manager Van Nistelrooy, he might want him back - so Stoke might want to get somebody else in.

"Leeds will probably be looking to get him out on loan, I don't think they'll entertain a permanent move unless it's massive money. It would be a good move for Gelhardt.

"Stoke are not a threat to Leeds and anywhere they allow him to go, they won't let him go somewhere where he could cause them a problem and score goals, they'll let him go somewhere to develop his future.