According to a recent report by Goal.com, Everton are among a whole host of clubs looking to secure the services of Joe Gelhardt from Wigan Athletic. The same source has also claimed that the Toffees are keeping tabs on the English youngster’s progress but will face stiff competition from Liverpool in pursuit of the player.
Gelhardt’s Incredible Rise In English Football
Gelhardt is widely regarded as one of the rising stars of the EFL Championship and has a bright future in English football. He decided to join the Latics at an early age and has since worked his way up the club’s youth ranks. The English whizkid has managed to secure two senior appearances at Wigan but is yet open his goal-scoring account for the club’s first-team.
The 17-year-old was an unused substitute for Paul Cook’s side in their opening two league matches against Cardiff City and Preston North End respectively. He managed to make his first appearance for the Latics in this campaign when he came off the bench to put in a cameo against Barnsley last weekend.
It seems like he is on the verge of breaking out as a first-team starter at the DW Stadium. Thus, Gelhardt should consider staying at Wigan as he will have a far better chance of securing regular first-team football in the coming years.
Should Everton Make A Move For The Championship Starlet?
However, the lure of Premier League football might be too lucrative for Gelhardt to turn down, so the Toffees should consider orchestrating a move for him when the transfer window reopens in January.
The English rising star is a left-footed forward who can strike the ball with a lot of power and precision. He can be a potent goal-threat in the final third but is yet to prove his worth at the highest level. There is no denying that Gelhardt has the potential to become a future star in England as long as he is willing to work his socks off on improving his game with each season.
Is Gelhardt A Star In The Making?
The Toffees should consider acquiring a young striker of Gelhardt’s potential as he is a star in the making. Marco Silva would be the perfect manager to nurture the Latics youngster at Goodison Park before he is ready to make an appearance in the Premier League. Everton has shown in the past that they are keen to promote youth players in their first-team as evidenced by the recent emergence of Tom Davies and Beni Baningime. Hence, the Merseyside club will be a decent fit for Gelhardt as he would have a realistic chance of proving his worth at the top level.
