Southampton have a new manager who will want to bring in his own players - given that both Leicester and Southampton have had crap starts to the season I can absolutely see them coming in for a player like Gelhardt, hell if it were City in that position he's exactly who I'd hope we would go for, Hughes too. So Tufan loved the club, but wasn't willing to stay longer than a month? Obviously didn't love it as much as he said. Or, more likely, he got an offer from a bigger club and left. Our academy products were never going to stay with us for life and it's probably low hanging fruit to use them as an example, but they did indeed leave when a bigger offer came along, which is exactly my point - we're all asking why Joffey would want to leave, while the question should really be why would he stay if a bigger club comes in? Hell even if it's not one of the clubs I mentioned and it's somebody like Wolves, Burnley or Forest come in, how can we as a club offer him anything to make him turn that down?
Leicester have no money though. Southampton have players like Azaz in a similar position. I'd be incredibly skeptical of them targeting someone like Gelhardt. No he loved Rosenior, which is what I said. Hughes got an offer from Coventry, why didn't he jump at it? If it's Wolves, Burnley or Forest that come in then yes of course he would go. As I said, it would take the lure of PL football, but I just don't see any of those being particularly interested at this stage, moreso in the summer.
I imagine Wolves will do in January what they always do, which is read down the Portugal national team's squad list and start chucking money at those player's clubs.
We rejected the offer outright and told him he wasn't leaving. Had it been a PL club, he probably would have gone.
Bingo. I can't imagine Leeds sell in January to Leicester/Southampton/etc. as I doubt they offer them enough and Gelhardt has shown he wasn't interested in considering other clubs than us at this level. It'd take a PL club.
I think everyone saying Gelhardt will get Prem offers are hyping him up a little bit. No chance Forest or Wolves come in for him. As Syd says above, those parachute clubs are either skint, or have what they'll see at better options in his position. It's worth noting that Gelhardt has struggled to get going everywhere but here. It would be a hell of a gamble to leave to go and potentially be a bench player and stagnate at another club. Playing regularly and feeling comfortable can be worth more than an extra £5k a week.
Not arguing with your logic, but isn't Gelhardt already on whacking great money, not from us but from Leeds (which we're paying part of right now)?
dont know the guy but theres no way southampton gives him a much bigger salary than hes on now and playing for us means he can still live in the leeds area, if he goes to southampton he will have to move down there i think hes very happy to stay here until the summer if leeds go down, they might keep him i have no doubts he can get another 10 goals potentially this season for us
His salary is only guaranteed until June. His form could fall off a cliff, he could do his ACL, have a Ryan Mason accident, anything could happen. If someone offers to give him his contract for another few years odds on he takes it. And I would consider that would be a very good offer for him. My opinion is it’s unlikely anyone will but there is a chance. At the end of the day he’s an in form player that’s scoring goals and he would be available probably for a very reasonable fee.
His contract ends at the end of the season. There is no guarantee Leeds will extend it if they stay up, it’s a financial risk on their part. Leeds have a high chance of getting relegated, in which case it probably would get extended but back at a much lower level after the relegation clause kicks in. If another club comes along in January and offers him anywhere near what he’s currently on for the next 3 years he’d be a bit mad not to take it.
This is the first time he’s played regularly in his actual position though. At Sunderland he was used as a number 9
I thought he had an extension for next season but the point stands, his salary is dependent on Leeds premier league status.
I do think you underestimate the possible level of panic at a club struggling in the PL if they have a chance at getting someone regularly scoring and in form and it might save them - they could well go for it. I also think its unlikely but stranger things have happened.
I thought Gelhardt wages doubled when Leeds got promoted to the Premier League. I assume we are paying some of it and Leeds are making up the difference. He might well be an expensive signing for a Championship club.
Correct, and they’re probably going to half again in June. Which was the point I was making if another club offers him a few years on the money he’s earning currently he would almost certainly take it.