Fresh Joe Gelhardt, Leeds United valuation emerges amid Hull City transfer talk | OneFootball

The Tigers are hoping to tie the attacker down to a permanent contract at the MKM Stadium

Hull City's promotion aims had taken a hit throughout February, but the Tigers will now be hoping their 4-2 success over Derby County in midweek kickstarts another much-needed run of momentum heading into the final weeks of the season.

City's exploits throughout the Championship campaign have caught many by surprise. After all, the club only escaped relegation to League One nine months ago on goal difference, and were hit with a two-window transfer fee restriction in the summer, just weeks into Sergej Jakirovic's tenure at the MKM Stadium.

However, the aforementioned predicament has certainly galvanised the Bosnian and his playing squad in East Yorkshire, with the Tigers seven points inside the play-offs ahead of Southampton, whilst a first victory in four league encounters against the Rams in midweek saw them close the gap on second-placed Middlesbrough to six points, whilst also having a crucial game in hand against Ipswich Town at Portman Road.

Numerous members of the Hull squad have emerged with credit for their contributions to a rather unexpected, but enjoyable, cause in HU3, and it is fair to say that Leeds United loanee, Joe Gelhardt, sits very high at the top of that particular list, with the England youth international continuing to be a firm favourite with supporters after spending the best part of 13 months with the club in two separate loan stints from the Elland Road outfit.

After playing a key role in ensuring Championship survival under Ruben Selles last term, the Liverpudlian returned to the MKM Stadium in August and is currently enjoying his best-ever season in terms of productivity, which has certainly increased the transfer speculation which surrounds him.

The upcoming summer window does represent a crossroads for Gelhardt, who will have one year left on his Whites contract, and a fresh valuation from the West Yorkshire side has now reportedly emerged.

Fresh Joe Gelhardt, Leeds United valuation emerges amid Hull City transfer talk

With the Tigers unable to spend transfer or loan fees throughout the current campaign's two windows, it was a complex saga which eventually saw the 23-year-old return to East Yorkshire for a second spell ahead of the first game of the season.

Whilst City, unsurprisingly, were keen on reuniting with the attacker, events such as a wage hike in his Leeds contract were reported as potential stumbling blocks, as well as the fact that the Premier League newcomers had set an £8m valuation for the permanent services of the man who has scarcely featured under Daniel Farke.

Gelhardt has since continued to play an influential role in a promotion hunt under Jakirovic, scoring 11 times and providing four assists in 26 Championship appearances this term.

The club's sporting director, Jared Dublin, recently outlined the permutations which may impact a permanent move for the forward, such as which division both sides are playing their football in next season, with Leeds currently six points clear of the relegation zone in the Premier League with 11 matches remaining.

And, it has since been reported by TEAMtalk that United have set a new valuation of between £3m and £5m for the permanent signature, which would still represent a profit on the £1m they paid Wigan Athletic for his services back in the summer of 2020.

Hull City will be satisfied with Leeds United's fresh Joe Gelhardt stance as transfer restrictions set to be lifted

It has been widely reported that City have been keen to tie Gelhardt down to a long-term contract once their restrictions were lifted, and that is set to be the case this summer.

There is still every chance that the former Sunderland loanee could be facing off against the Whites in the top flight next term for City, which would see him add to his current record of 35 Premier League appearances, during which he registered two goals and six assists.

It will also satisfy the Hull hierarchy that the valuation which his current employers previously held has dropped rather significantly, despite the fact their loan ace has been in fine form.