Premier League clubs Everton and Liverpool are reportedly interested in Wigan Athletic’s Championship striker Joe Gelhardt.
If Wigan Athletic fans got their way, Joe Gelhardt would be starting each and every week.
He may be just 17 years of age but the Liverpool-born striker already looks like the most exciting player in Paul Cook’s squad. And in just 20 minutes against Swansea City on Saturday, Gelhardt produced a truly electrifying cameo to remind everyone why clubs up and down the land are casting envious glances at the DW Stadium.
According to Goal, Wolverhampton Wanderers and Leicester City are keeping close tabs on the England U18 star. TEAMtalk, however, believes that Everton and Liverpool are the most likely destination for a striker born and raised on Merseyside.
Gelhardt is a Red at heart, though Everton fans will be more than intrigued by those comparisons with a certain Wayne Rooney.
“He’s Wayne Rooney-esque,” England coach Chris Powell told the EFL on Quest (21 September, 9:00pm) after Gelhardt scored a stunning individual goal against Hull City. “He’s got a lot of talent.”
The fresh-faced teen is hardly the finished product but, in just over quarter of an hour, he left Wigan fans drooling and Swansea quaking on Saturday. Gelhardt was outstanding in Lancashire and one glorious through ball really should have led to a crucial Wigan goal, only for Keiffer Moore to squander the chance.
Though Latics fans should enjoy Gelhardt while they can because he might not stick around for long.
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