With the party over and focus now on next season for Leeds United, there are going to have to be some difficult decisions made on the futures of some players still contracted to the club.
In the current first-team squad, five are currently scheduled to go. Sam Byram, Josuha Guilavogui and Junior Firpo see their contracts expire in June, while Joe Rothwell and Manor Solomon are only on loan.
Then, there are the players in Daniel Farke’s squad that could be sold. Phil Hay thinks Illan Meslier is done at Leeds, while Graham Smyth has said he expects Patrick Bamford to leave Elland Road this summer.
Following that, Leeds then have a number of out-on-loan players set to return. Rasmus Kristensen is off to Frankfurt permanently, but Joe Gelhardt and Sam Greenwood are among the players set to return.
Joe Gelhardt and Sam Greenwood decisions made by The 49ers
Gelhardt has starred for Hull City on loan since joining The Tigers in January, scoring five goals in 20 appearances for Ruben Selles’ side. Greenwood meanwhile, has netted five league goals with Preston.
But given they were surplus to requirements under Farke in the Championship, the chances of them breaking back into the side with Leeds in the Premier League is unlikely. The 49ers have made a decision.
TeamTalk say Leeds are now willing to listen to offers for both Greenwood and Gelhardt. Preston have a deal in place for Greenwood if they want to do a deal, but it could be that they decide not to sign him.
Meanwhile, there is hope at Hull that Gelhardt signs beyond his current loan spell. But his form with The Tigers will certainly have attracted interest from other Championship clubs moving into the 25-26 season.
What Joe Gelhardt has said about his future at Leeds United
The England youth international was one of a number of players that was seen as benefitting from the club’s relegation to the Championship in 2023. Mateo Joseph, Charlie Cresswell, even Sonny Perkins.
But Perkins and Cresswell have left while Leeds could let Joseph go to Betis after turning down a bid in January. Gelhardt meanwhile, has made it clear that he does not want to be sitting on the bench.
“I don’t want to be sitting on a bench and not playing my football. I’ve enjoyed it so much here, so I’d like to play football again next year. I don’t know where that’s going to be, I definitely want to be playing.”
Hull did manage to survive relegation on the final day in the Championship, so they could have the means to go and sign Gelhardt this summer. He has a contract until 2027, so another loan is possible.
