"Avoid relegation" - Hull City: Ray Parlour tips Leeds United player to succeed under Ruben Selles | OneFootball

Ex-Hull City midfielder Ray Parlour spoke exclusively to FLW about Leeds United's Joe Gelhardt, who is closing in on a loan switch to the MKM Stadium

Former Arsenal and Hull City midfielder Ray Parlour has tipped Joe Gelhardt to succeed under Ruben Selles at Hull City ahead of an imminent switch to the MKM Stadium.

The Tigers are poised to unveil Gelhardt as the second signing of the Selles era, with the Spaniard in the midst of his inaugural transfer at the club after succeeding Tim Walter last month. Hull are intent on wasting no time whatsoever in acquiring additional recruits to Selles' disposal as they bid to stave off the threat of relegation to League One, which remains a firm possibility after 26 matches of the current campaign.

The East Yorkshire outfit are currently placed 22nd in the Championship, although they're level on both points and goal differential with Portsmouth in 21st.

Hull made their first signing of the month in ex-Middlesbrough star Matt Crooks, who made a return to English football by agreeing a deal to join from MLS side Real Salt Lake after spending less than a year Stateside. Now, according to reports, the arrival of Crooks is set to be followed up with a second signing as Gelhardt closes in on a move across Yorkshire from rivals Leeds United.

The Whites forward is currently undertaking medical proceedings ahead of a loan switch for the remainder of the campaign, which could provide a significant boost to Hull's survival hopes.

Hull have been linked to a number of forwards this month and are among a range of Championship teams interested in Aston Villa's Louie Barry, while they have also reportedly seen a bid rejected by relegation rivals Plymouth Argyle for Morgan Whittaker.

Ray Parlour tips Leeds United's Joe Gelhardt to succeed at Hull City

While Hull haven't fared too badly from a defensive standpoint - relative to their league position, of course - their struggles in front of goal are well-documented and need to be addressed. At the time of writing, Hull are averaging the league's joint-second-lowest return for goals per match with just 1.0 and have missed 35 big chances, with only seven other Championship sides missing more.

Parlour, who wound down an illustrious playing career by making 15 appearances for the Tigers in 2007 following high-profile spells with Arsenal and Middlesbrough, believes Gelhardt could be a shrewd acquisition by Selles as he pushes to retain the side's Championship status.

Parlour exclusively told Football League World, via NetBet Online Casino: "This looks more likely (than Hull's reported interest in Barry).

"He could definitely do a good job for Hull City as they battle to avoid relegation.

"The second half of the season promises to be very important for Hull City and they need to pick up points quickly as the teams around them have been winning and they don’t want to make it even more difficult if the gap widens."

Leeds United's Joe Gelhardt has a point to prove at Hull City

Much hinges on this move not only for Hull but also as far as the player in question is concerned.

Gelhardt was tipped for big things at Elland Road after bursting onto the scene in the 2021/22 Premier League campaign, though he's failed to reach those heights ever since.

The ex-Wigan Athletic prospect spent a mixed half-season on loan with Sunderland in 2023 but has been unable to make any sort of impact back at Leeds after returning from the Stadium of Light, playing little over 200 minutes of Championship football in the last year-and-a-half.

It's something of a concern that Gelhardt has played such little football, though Hull will be hoping to unlock his potential and get him back firing infront of goal once again.