In a recent interview with Wigan Today, Wigan Athletic manager Paul Cook shared his thoughts on the recent speculation linking Joe Gelhardt with a move to the Premier League and said, “If you look around all football clubs these days, players move on, they come and go.
“If Joffy (Gelhardt) keeps progressing at the rate he has been…will he be at Wigan Athletic for the next 10 years? I very much doubt he will!
“This is the game today. But I genuinely know, from the chairman all the way down, we are not looking to sell players like that.
“We want to grow this club, and enhance it to its full potential.”
Cook’s recent comments suggest that he is planning to develop the English striker before cashing in on him when a favourable offer comes in for the player. It is no surprise that the Latics are unwilling to lose one of their most talented youngsters right now, which will be a bitter pill to swallow for Everton. The Toffees are among a whole host of clubs interested in securing Gelhardt’s signature from Wigan (via Goal.com).
Gelhardt’s Remarkable Rise In The EFL Championship
The Wigan rising star is one of the most talented young prospects in the second tier of England and has the potential to become a future star in English football. He made a switch to the DW Stadium early in his boyhood career and is a product of Wigan’s youth system. Gelhardt has made three appearances for the Latics thus far but is yet to score for them at the senior level.
The English starlet was an unused substitute for the Greater Manchester outfit in their opening two league fixtures versus Cardiff City and Preston North End respectively. He finally got a taste of first-team football for the first time this season when he came off the bench to put in a cameo against Barnsley before the international break.
It seems like Gelhardt is on the brink of establishing himself as a regular in Paul Cook’s starting XI. Therefore, it makes a lot of sense for the English striker to remain at Wigan as he will be able to develop his game by securing more game time in the EFL Championship.
Wigan Unwilling To Sell Gelhardt At The Moment: Big Blow For The Merseyside Outfit?
Gelhardt is a left-footed striker who packs a lot of power with his attempts on goal. He can be a lethal marksman in the attacking third of the pitch but has still not proven himself at the top level. The Wigan head coach’s comments will be a huge blow for the Toffees and their chances of landing Gelhardt in the future.
It seems unlikely that Marco Silva would be able to convince the Latics to part ways with their prized asset when they are planning to develop him to earn a much larger profit in the coming years.
