Joe Gelhardt tipped to leave Leeds United in near future
Joe Gelhardt, who is currently warming the bench on the outskirts of the Championship after failing to make an impact under Marcelo Bielsa at Leeds United, appears to have made his breakthrough so long ago.
Under Marcelo Bielsa and later Jesse Marsch, Leeds appeared to have a generational talent when they introduced Joe Gelhardt into the 21/22 relegation struggle.
Regardless of the management at Elland Road, he has found opportunities to be almost nonexistent since then, despite the fact that his strength, skill, and quality in the final third helped Leeds win that season.
Joe Gelhardt stats since relegation – striker barely playing
Due in part to the calibre of players ahead of him in the hierarchy and in part to Daniel Farke’s inability to determine which position is best for the young player, Gelhardt has struggled to acquire consistent playing time since relegation.
Since a loan hasn’t been approved to give him those consistent opportunities either, Gelhardt has been stuck in a precarious situation where he is a member of Leeds’ matchday squads but never appears to be playing.
His minutes since being demoted in 2023 paint a bleak picture of his incapacity to display his skills:
| Joe Gelhardt stats since August ’23 | |
|---|---|
| Minutes (in league) | 415 |
| Goals | 1 |
| Assists | 0 |
| Shots | 12 |
Furthermore, the forward has played 157 up front, 144 in “attacking midfield,” and 63 on the right wing since August 2023, so it’s not even like he’s finding himself playing in the same position or gaining momentum with minutes in a consistent role (WhoScored.com).
Will Leeds get promoted this season?
Gelhardt’s Leeds career surely coming to an end at this rate
Gelhardt must soon come to the conclusion that he would be better off leaving Elland Road given the lack of opportunities to make an impression.
In sharp contrast to what many would have anticipated when he actually signed this deal, Leeds’ stock is declining to the point where he won’t be too pricey for many Championship clubs. His long-term contract expires in 2027, so there’s no possibility that Leeds will see that run down to expiry.
In the near term, a loan for the second half of this season seems like the most obvious answer, but it wouldn’t address Gelhardt’s ongoing issue—that no manager at Leeds has ever been able to develop him into a starting role on a regular basis.
It’s difficult to predict which team would be the best fit for him; Wayne Rooney’s Plymouth would be, as the manager may see glimmers of his own style of play in the 22-year-old, but that’s a reach to say the least.
