Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink has stated that he tried to sign Joe Gelhardt from Leeds in the summer, as he told Sky Sports (31/10/21 at 1:45 pm).
The Burton boss, who was working for Sky on the weekend, stated that ‘everyone wants him’, as he lauded the teenager and stated he has ‘got everything’.
Gelhardt is yet to start a Premier League game for Marcelo Bielsa, but in the glimpses of talent he has showcased to his fans, he has impressed.
His most important cameo so far came against Wolves, when he came off the bench, then made a bursting run inside the penalty area and won his side a penalty.
That stoppage-time spot-kick was converted by Rodrigo and Leeds sealed a late point.
Nonetheless, this is what Hasselbaink had to say about trying to sign Gelhardt in the summer and how he was ‘laughed at’ by his former club.
“I tried to sign him in the summer on Leeds,” said Hasselbaink. “When I called Leeds, they laughed at me. They said ‘everybody wants him’.
“He has got everything. He has got a silky left foot and he isn’t afraid to take players on. He understands the game.
“He is stocky and strong. Powerful and he is going to have a bright future. That’s the type of player you got to the stadium for to look at.”
It just goes to show how much Gelhardt means to Leeds and how much Bielsa is willing to push him this season.
Of course, there is still a long way to go and he’s not going to throw the 19-year-old straight into the deep end.
But if he managed the light-footed forward pretty well, then he might just provide that much-needed depth, freshness and bite Leeds need in the final third.
Raphinha is supplying that in bucket loads for Leeds, but more is needed from others.
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