West Brom want Leeds United striker Joe Gelhardt on loan in January
West Brom want to sign Leeds United striker Joe Gelhardt on loan this January but will face competition from several Championship teams, according to the Yorkshire Evening Post.
Gelhardt, 20, has struggled for game time at Elland Road this season after falling down the pecking order in Jesse Marsch’s plans, although not all interested clubs have made approaches yet.
The Yorkshire Evening Post believes Wigan Athletic are currently in the driving seat for the Englishman’s acquisition, but Carlos Corberan’s side have registered an interest with injuries going through their attacking options.
The report said: “Gelhardt, who is an England youth international, will be given the option to decide which club he wants to join. Although a move back to the DW Stadium isn’t completely done yet, it appears a return to familiar surroundings is of particular interest.
“Other second-tier teams such as West Brom, Hull City, Stoke City and Sunderland have been interested in bringing him in. However, not all have made loan approaches.”
Options
The signing of Gelhardt certainly ticks all the boxes from West Brom’s point of view, as they are clearly lacking options following recent injury setbacks.
Despite comfortably dispatching Chesterfield in their FA Cup third-round replay, the Baggies were forced to start 18-year-old Reyes Cleary at centre forward and Jaime Andrews tucked in behind him in an advanced attacking position.
With Daryl Dike also renowned for his rotten record with injuries, the Spaniard’s side could easily be without any centre-forward options as the season draws to a close.
Getting a loan deal completed this month makes the most sense because, with a packed few months of Championship football ahead and injuries mounting up, he needs strength in depth to ensure his team can hang onto the coattails of the top six.
However, Leeds are unlikely to allow Gelhardt to move to a club where he will be sitting on the bench – and when both Dike and Brandon Thomas-Asante are available, this could well be the case.
In other West Brom news, Albion are trying to sign this Brighton player on loan.