According to Daily Star, Chelsea have joined Liverpool and Manchester United in the pursuit of Joe Gelhardt. The Wigan Athletic centre forward has raised a lot of eyebrows with his performances in the youth divisions and is courted by many top clubs across England. However, it’s unlikely he will be made available by Wigan in the upcoming January transfer window after the youngster signed a new contract recently.
Gelhardt is one of the best talents in the Championship right now
Gelhardt has enjoyed a rapid rise to prominence after initially making his senior debut last season against Rotherham United, at the age of just 16. He made quite an impression with his limited opportunities. As a result, the youngster has seen his game-time improved in this new season, albeit marginally.
Gelhardt has already been involved in six Championship matches so far this season. He notably scored his first senior goal in a 2-2 draw with Hull City earlier in the campaign. The forward was involved Wigan’s last two matches as well, though the club lost both those fixtures.
A centre-forward by trade, Gelhardt’s excellent close control, coupled with his technical prowess mean he is one of England’s brightest young prospects right now. Much like Son Heung-Min, he loves to take part in the build-up and is quite agile in the final third. Moreover, the youngster is known for his physicality, which allows him to keep hold of the ball despite the pressure exerted by the defenders.
Is Gelhardt a viable target for Chelsea?
Chelsea are known for their wealth of academy gems, though their success rate when it comes to integrating those youngsters into the first-team, was close to awful. However, that has changed under Frank Lampard, who has played a key role behind the monumental rise of players like Mason Mount, Fikayo Tomori and Reece James among a few others.
Therefore, the Blues might not actually be a bad destination for Gelhardt. The 17-year-old could be an excellent addition to Chelsea’s U19 side, and if he can replicate his performances in the youth levels, he might be presented with an opportunity of making a mark in the first-team in the nigh future.
In the meantime, however, Gelhardt would be of no use in the Chelsea first-team. And though they must do everything they can to secure the services of the young forward, sending him back to Wigan on a loan deal might be a wiser choice as it will help him gain some invaluable experience in senior football.
