How Joe Gelhardt feels about leaving Leeds United for Hull City | OneFootball

The forward has been key to City's promotion push under Sergej Jakirovic this season

Hull City have provided one of the Championship's biggest storylines this season in their first campaign under Sergej Jakirovic's management.

Despite being tipped for yet another season of struggle, the Tigers have continuously defied the odds in the second tier, with supporters in East Yorkshire daring to dream that they could be seeing Premier League football at the MKM Stadium for the first time in nine years come August.

It has been a remarkable transformation of fortunes under Jakirovic for City, with the Bosnian leaving his post with Turkish Süper Lig side, Kayserispor, last June to take charge in HU3, only to be hit with an eventual two-window transfer fee restriction a matter of weeks into his tenure.

Remarkably, though, their recruitment has been extremely shrewd throughout both transfer windows, even though they have still been hamstrung by a policy of 'one in, one out' and a multitude of injury problems throughout the season.

Therefore, it is even more of a testament to Jakirovic and his close-knit group of players that they remain heavily involved in the promotion conversation, be that through the automatic route or in the play-offs.

Many players have earned their fair share of praise as a result, but after a goal-shy campaign last season which ended in survival on goal difference, the stark contrast in quality between then and now in attacking areas is clear.

Oli McBurnie, of course, has had a major impact since his free transfer in August, whilst Kyle Joseph has also come on leaps and bounds this term after failing to score in the second half of last season.

Another impressive performer has been Leeds United loanee, Joe Gelhardt, and supporters will certainly have loved the 23-year-old's latest admission on his future.

Joe Gelhardt issues fresh admission on chances of permanent Hull City, Leeds United deal

The forward scored five goals in just 20 appearances in his first stint at the MKM last season under Ruben Selles, and his popularity meant there was a clamour for the England youth international to be reunited with the Tigers in the summer.

Despite numerous stumbling blocks, City were able to fend off competition from fellow promotion hopefuls, Middlesbrough, to lure Gelhardt back to the club for a season-long loan this time around.

A purple patch between October and November was particularly key to his double-figure tally of goals, having struggled to fully live up to the same performance levels after returning from a calf issue which was sustained in December.

Given the fact his contract at Elland Road expires in 14 months time, on top of claims that Leeds had set an £8m valuation on his head last year, many debated what the future holds for the attacker.

Unsurprisingly, there is a strong desire from the Hull camp to see the Liverpudlian sign on the dotted line permanently, and Gelhardt has now issued his latest stance on whether that may happen.

He told BBC Radio Humberside: "Everybody knows how much I love the club and my football here. I think it would be stupid to say I wouldn’t like to come back."

It was also revealed that the ex-Wigan Athletic man was particularly delighted to have remained with City for the entirety of the current campaign after uncertainty came to the fore in the January transfer window.

Hull City will surely make Joe Gelhardt, Leeds United transfer a priority this summer

From City's perspective, they will be entering the upcoming transfer market with the removal of their previous restrictions regardless of divisional status, and the club will also be pleased to learn of recent reports suggesting that Gelhardt's asking price has now dropped to between the figures of £3m and £5m.

That, of course, isn't a slant on his overall performance levels, as he has remained relatively consistent for the Tigers, although it is still hard to envisage any way back as far as his Leeds career is concerned.

He hasn't featured competitively for the Whites since October 2023, and spent almost an entire year unfancied by Daniel Farke in terms of his squad selection in LS11 before his loan switch across the M62.

It has been some time since then, but Gelhardt does also boast previous top-level experience with the West Yorkshire side, scoring twice and providing six assists in 35 prior appearances.

As such, if both clubs are satisfied with terms and Gelhardt clearly envisages a long-term future with Hull, this could be a transfer that is concluded rather swiftly in the upcoming window.