Joe Gelhardt ‘to complete’ £6.5m Hull move, Leeds could fund Ayase Ueda | OneFootball

Leeds United can turn Joe Gelhardt’s exit into the answer to their striker shortfall, with funds directed towards Ayase Ueda. The Athletic reports the 24-year-old is set to complete a £6.5m permanent move to Hull City.

He completed the first part of his medical on Wednesday, 12 August, and is finishing final checks today before signing a multi-year deal at the MKM Stadium.

After a productive loan at Hull last season, scoring regularly and helping guide them back to the Premier League, he still sat outside Daniel Farke’s core plans in West Yorkshire.

Banking £6.5m for a fringe squad member is outstanding business, especially after a £3m-£4m fee had been floated. It gives Paraag Marathe and 49ers Enterprises crucial headroom to pursue Feyenoord striker Ueda. Reinvesting that sum would trim the net cost to roughly £8.5m and help meet Feyenoord’s demands while protecting funds for other tweaks.

Leeds also hold an advantage on personal terms through midfielder Ao Tanaka, whose close relationship with fellow Samurai Blue international Ueda offers an instant cultural and tactical bridge.

Farke’s system leans on a central pivot to hold up play, pull centre-backs around and finish high-xG chances inside the box. Swapping a peripheral option for a proven international represents an immediate upgrade to the squad’s ceiling. After 25 league goals for Feyenoord last term, Ueda looks well equipped to take primary goalscoring responsibilities off Dominic Calvert-Lewin.

Source: Leedsunited.news

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