Joe Gelhardt is currently starring on loan from Leeds.
The Liverpudlian can boast five goals and two assists in his last six Championship appearances for Hull, who sit fifth thanks to the Leeds loanee’s efforts.
Unsurprisingly, Sergej Jakirovic – manager of Hull – has now revealed he would like to sign Joe Gelhardt on a permanent basis, but in doing so, provided some insight into how the striker is viewed back at Elland Road.
Sergej Jakirovic suggests Elland Road insiders do not see Joe Gelhardt as a Leeds United player
It remains to be seen what happens with the 23-year-old at Leeds, as he will only have 12 months remaining on his contract at the end of the season.
However, Jakirovic has now given a strong indication that Leeds see no future for Gelhardt in Yorkshire, suggesting those at Elland Road do not view him as “a player for Leeds” despite his rich vein of goalscoring form.
The Bosnian told BBC Humberside Sport: “I know that Joe is very happy to be here and from the first contact he wanted to come to us. He enjoys it here and told me he will stay until the end of the season. We will try also to buy him, we will see.
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“I don’t think Leeds see him like a player for Leeds. Of course, this is their opinion, but right now he is showing very good performances and a very high level. His statistics are amazing right now.
“If there was no embargo (in January) we would try to close the deal immediately.”
Daniel Farke will repeat his Charlie Cresswell mistake if he forces Joe Gelhardt out of Leeds United
Daniel Farke already cost Leeds Charlie Cresswell after selling the defender to Toulouse for just £3.8m back in July 2024 – having failed to give the England U21 international a proper chance at Elland Road.
Daniel Farke thinks he’s the perfect manager for Harry Gray:
“I don’t want to sound arrogant, but I gave Harry his debut. If I were to back a manager to be brave enough to play a young player, I’d pick me.”
Cresswell is now wanted by West Ham and is also matching Kylian Mbappe statistically in terms of his performance level, so it was clearly a mistake from the German.
Now, if Farke causes Gelhardt – who has been compared to Wayne Rooney – to leave Leeds permanently as well, we feel it will prove to be a similarly poor error of judgement.
Photo by Izzy Poles – AMA/Getty Images
Gelhardt – who was also likened to Dennis Bergkamp recently – is proving he knows where the back of the net is, and still has plenty of time to get even better at the age of just 23.
Meanwhile, back at Elland Road, Lukas Nmecha, Joel Piroe and Dominic Calvert-Lewin have scored just three goals combined this season, so it would make little sense to send Gelhardt away for good in 2026.