Leeds United are closing in on another deal this summer transfer window…
What’s the word?
According to TEAMtalk editor James Marshment, the Whites are on the verge of tying young striker Joe Gelhardt down to a new contract. He tweeted:
“As per @TEAMtalk sources, Leeds United are on verge of announcing new five-year deal for Joe Gelhardt, earning 20-year-old [a] 55% payrise. Talks also progressing at tying down Crysencio Summerville to a new deal.”
Will Gelhardt become a star at Leeds?
The Liverpool-born forward originally joined Leeds from Wigan Athletic in the summer of 2020 and has quickly found himself as part of the senior setup at Thorp Arch.
Gelhardt made his Premier League debut back in October and scored his first goal in the English top-flight against Chelsea, just two months later.
Dream deal
This is something of a dream deal for everyone concerned – supporters, manager Jesse Marsch, the striker himself.
The 20-year-old is arguably a real star of the future, given that he has already made an impact in the first team in west Yorkshire. He has also been capped at international level, most recently earning a call-up to the England U21 squad.
It was Gelhardt who handed Marsch his first win of his Leeds reign, bagging a last-ditch goal against relegation rivals Norwich City.
He then provided a late assist to clinch a point against Brighton and Hove Albion on the penultimate game of the 2021/22 campaign. In the end, he made ten appearances under the American, showing that he could play a big part in the future.
Known for his dribbling and power, Gelhardt has earned early career comparisons to that of Wayne Rooney, whilst Sky Sports pundit Jamie Redknapp dubbed him a “human wrecking ball.”
On that evidence alone, it’s easy to see why the Yorkshire giants are keen on tying him down for the next five years but there’s another factor, his value has skyrocketed.
Aged just 17, Gelhardt’s value was worth just £675k, according to Transfermarkt, but that figure has multiplied by 789%, with CIES Football Observatory estimating his value to be around £6m.
“I’m sure we’ll find out in the years ahead, but Gelhardt may well be the best bit of business the club has done in the last 20 years, if not ever because he just looks absolutely outrageous – very, very good player,” claimed LeedsLive reporter Beren Cross.
Indeed, a fresh extension is a big step towards this claim coming to fruition, so director of football Victor Orta tying the forward down for the long-term future is certainly something of a dream move for Leeds right now.
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