Exclusive: How Sky pundit has reacted to Leeds United, Hull City transfer news involving Joe Gelhardt - 'surprised' claim made | OneFootball

Joe Gelhardt was the subject of an £8m valuation from his parent club in the summer

Sky Sports pundit and EFL expert, Don Goodman, has stated that he was surprised to see that Leeds United had placed an £8m valuation on Joe Gelhardt in the summer, with the forward currently in fine form on loan with Hull City.

The two Yorkshire sides had endured completely contrasting seasons in the Championship last term, with the Whites returning to the Premier League after two campaigns away, achieving 100 points under the management of Daniel Farke in the process.

Meanwhile, after narrowly missing out on a first stint in the play-offs since their 2016 Wembley success over Sheffield Wednesday, a chaotic campaign in East Yorkshire culminated with the Tigers escaping a second fall into League One within a five-year period on goal difference ahead of Luton Town.

As has become the norm since Acun Ilicali's takeover of the club back in January 2022, though, the Tigers would oversee plenty of change in another chaotic and eventful summer, including the appointment of Bosnian head coach, Sergej Jakirovic, who would swiftly replace the aforementioned Selles after the Spaniard was handed his P45 just 11 days after the final day draw against Portsmouth at Fratton Park.

It has proven to be an inspired decision by the Tigers hierarchy though, as seven months down the line, they have become one of the most entertaining sides to watch in the Championship, and have asserted themselves as play-off contenders in what remains a wide-open table heading into the Christmas and New Year period.

A run of just three defeats in the past 11 games has certainly helped the cause, alongside the sensational form which Gelhardt has found himself in since the second international break of the campaign back in October.

As a result, Goodman exclusively revealed to Football League World that he is delighted to see the former Wigan Athletic man continuing to showcase the best version of himself in black and amber, as well as his surprise at a recent price-tag claim which emerged after his dramatic winner against Stoke City at the Bet365 Stadium last weekend.

Don Goodman issues 'surprise' Joe Gelhardt verdict amid fresh Leeds United, Hull City transfer revelation

After making a £1m switch to Leeds from Wigan in the summer of 2020, Gelhardt has since made 57 appearances for the Whites, with the majority of those coming in the Premier League during Jesse Marsch's tenure, which included a dramatic winner against Norwich City at Elland Road in the spring of 2022.

Ironically, the Canaries were also the last team which the Liverpudlian faced off against for Leeds in a minor substitute cameo back in October 2024, two months before he would make a second loan switch away from LS11 after previously enjoying a temporary spell with Sunderland.

His impact was critical in helping Selles' side avoid the drop by the narrowest of margins, with five goals in 20 games enough to see him end the campaign as Hull's second-highest scorer, before becoming the subject of a long-standing transfer saga, whilst Hull were hit by a transfer fee restriction by the EFL.

After it was initially thought that a wage hike in his pre-existing Leeds contract would prove a sticking point in negotiations, Hull were able to conclude a loan deal with their neighbours across the M62 for the 23-year-old despite facing competition from Middlesbrough.

It has now come to light, though, that United were hoping to sell Gelhardt for £8m in the summer with 24 months of his most recent deal left to run - a figure which somewhat surprised Goodman considering his exploits prior to a current run of breathtaking form.

"There's no doubt about it, Joe Gelhardt has probably surpassed expectations," he told FLW.

"People would've been surprised that Leeds would have been looking for £8m last summer, because there really hadn't been that consistency element to his play or his goalscoring. There's clearly a talented lad there.

"But, you're seeing it come to fruition at Hull," Goodman added. "He said he's really loving his football there.

"The danger, of course, for Joe Gelhardt is moving to another club," the pundit claimed. "They may not play to his strengths in the same way that Hull do.

"I would liken that to Tom Cannon at Preston on loan. Was brilliant, he obviously went to Leicester and now Sheffield United, and it hasn't gone as well, although he's scored a couple recently.

"It's not as straightforward as 'you're a good striker' or a good player banging in goals," he explained. "If you move to the wrong club, it doesn't always work out.

"I still want to see more from Joe Gelhardt. I still want to see him continue this consistency over the course of a season rather than the first few months, and let's see what happens in the summer.

"But, right now, Hull City is a great place for him to be, where he's loved and admired."

Joe Gelhardt's consistency has elevated Hull City to new heights

It isn't the only cause behind Hull's unexpected start, but Gelhardt's consistency has been a key factor behind a rapid turnaround in fortunes in East Yorkshire.

The dynamic forward has remained a constant threat in City's fluid attack which, at times, has also been unsettled due to availability, with the likes of Oli McBurnie, Liam Millar and Mohamed Belloumi all absent at varying points.

However, the fact they remain the joint-second-highest scorers heading into December is largely down to Gelhardt's tally of 11 goal contributions in 18 games, and the challenge now for the Leeds loanee is to keep such form going between now and May, which is likely to be decisive in City's overall finish.