View: Everton should be in convo for Leeds player, he was once dubbed 'Next Wayne Rooney'

Leeds United forward Joe Gelhardt was dubbed the “next Wayne Rooney” during his time at Wigan Athletic, leading to inevitable links to Everton at the time

According to talkSPORT back in 2020, the Blues wanted to bring the Scouser back to Merseyside as the then 17-year-old rose through the ranks at Wigan Athletic.

Fast forward four years and Gelhardt is on the fringes at Leeds United and is teetering towards an “inevitable” January exit, with a host of sides interested in securing a move for the forward [Football League World, 11 December].

Sean Dyche could soon be facing a forward crisis at Goodison Park as Dominic Calvert-Lewin has shown no desire to renew on fresh terms [BBC Sport], and Beto is also eager to end his stint with the Blues.

Therefore, with finances still strained at the Toffees, Kevin Thelwell could move to bring a long-standing transfer target back to Merseyside as a no-nonsense, cheap back-up to whoever leads the line.

Everton should join the race to sign Joe Gelhardt

Suppose the upcoming January transfer window develops as expected for Everton, Dyche may tackle the second half of the campaign with only one recognised centre-forward in his squad.

Furthermore, Armando Broja is plying his trade at Goodison Park temporarily from Chelsea. Should he return to West London at the end of the campaign, the Blues would enter the summer transfer window needing two striker recruitments at the very least.

The Albanian has not long made his debut for Everton, doing so in the 4-0 win against Wolves, and while he impressed in his cameo, the jury is still out on whether Broja is the man to lead the line this year.

Thelwell must prioritise a new forward in January regardless of what happens with Calvert-Lewin and Beto – the pair have combined for only three goals in 23 Premier League appearances thus far.

And a move for Gelhardt makes perfect sense; he has found himself on the fringes at Leeds, having made only two league appearances this term, and will be allowed to leave West Yorkshire on a loan move until the end of the season.

A return to Merseyside would be a more attractive prospect than signing for one of the reported sides interested in his services, and with Leeds preferring a permanent sale, a purchase clause could be interested in a prospective agreement.

He has failed to live up to the Wayne Rooney comparisons in his short career, but at 22, he could certainly rediscover his form back home on Merseyside.

An exciting signing it may not be, but a player boasting Premier League experience and with age on his side, it makes a lot more sense than splashing out a large amount on another Beto.

In other Everton news, an ex-FIFA official has sent a warning to Arsenal ahead of the clash against the Blues.

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