In order to prepare for a championship challenge in the second half of the season, Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers is in the market
for quality players this January. Parkhead’s summer hiring class was lacking, so this month the team is being forced to make changes.
Though there have been several players linked to the Hoops, there has been no official word on any arrivals or exits. Joe Gelhardt is
the most recent.
The Daily Mail claims that Celtic is “attracting interest” in the 21-year-old Leeds United forward. Gelhardt is still relatively young, and
his Elland Road contract expires in2027, therefore a significant transfer price would be required for any long-term relocation. But the
champs, who have significant financial reserves in the bank, shouldn’t be alarmed by this.
It’s unclear, though, if they would be used wisely on Gelhardt. The Liverpool player has played for Leeds, Wigan, and Sunderland in 90
professional matches, however he has only contributed 17 goals. He has made eight appearances in all competitions this season,
scoring one goal.
Although he has scored 20 goals in 31 games for Leeds Under-21s and 15 in 29 overall caps for England’s Under-15s, 16s, 17s, 18s, and
20s, he has never been able to translate his young form into the senior game.
Even if it might not seem like the most thrilling decision to acquire Gelhardt, Brendan Rodgers’ assessment is one that should be
believed. The manager has a thorough understanding of the English football scene, and during his tenure at various teams, he has
successfully bought a number of players that are similar to the 21-year-old.
In spite of this, supporters are calling for proven talent in front of a major race that will determine who advances to the Champions
League. It might not be a good idea to partially depend on a player like Gelhardt for a run-in.
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