According to a recent report by Goal.com, Liverpool are among several clubs keeping tabs on the development of Wigan Athletic starlet Joe Gelhardt. The same source has also claimed that the Reds are monitoring the progress of the English whizkid but will face stiff competition from Everton in pursuit of the forward.
Gelhardt’s Recent Emergence In The EFL Championship
Gelhardt can be considered as one of the most promising young talents in English football and has incredible potential to be a world-class player in his position someday. He opted to make a switch to the DW Stadium at the age of 10 and has since fought his way up the Latics’ youth system. The 17-year-old has played in two matches for Wigan’s senior team but is yet to register his first competitive goal under Paul Cook’s tutelage.
The English teen sensation was only a part of the Latics bench in their first two league fixtures against Cardiff City and Preston North End respectively. Gelhardt managed to make his first appearance of the season last Saturday when he came on as a substitute to put in a cameo in a 0-0 home draw versus Barnsley.
The English frontman is on the brink of breaking out as a first-team starter at the Greater Manchester club. Hence, he should consider remaining a Wigan player for the time being as he will be in with a decent chance of securing regular first-team minutes over the next few years.
Why The Reds Should Orchestrate A Move For The English Wonderkid
The attraction of Premier League football might be too lucrative for Gelhardt to decline. Thus, the Merseyside outfit would be foolish not to make an attempt to bring him to Anfield during the January transfer window.
The left-footed striker is versatile enough to play anywhere across the frontline. His shots on target often pack a lot of power and finesse. He can be a lethal presence inside the opposition half but is still quite a raw talent. So it won’t be fair to throw him in the deep waters of Premier League football just yet. There is no doubt that Gelhardt is a star in the making as long as he can unlock his true potential by working tirelessly on honing his skills in the coming years.
Is Gelhardt A Prospect For The Future?
The European champions should consider adding Gelhardt to their youth ranks as they recently lost Bobby Duncan to Fiorentina. Klopp is in dire need of replacing Duncan, and Gelhardt fits the bill perfectly. The Liverpool boss would be the ideal manager to get the best out of the Championship wonderkid. Klopp has proven during his time at Anfield that he is willing to provide his youth players with a chance to feature in his first-team if they are good enough for top-flight action.
The rapid rise of Trent Alexander-Arnold and Rhian Brewster over the past few years should serve as proof that Gelhardt will be under good management if the Reds win the race to land him in the future.
