"One of those two clubs" - Leeds United forward told to join Plymouth Argyle or Portsmouth FC in January | OneFootball

Out-of-favour Whites man Joe Gelhardt has been linked with the Championship duo alongside a host of other clubs

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more...

Plymouth Argyle and Portsmouth have been named as the two best teams for out-of-favour Leeds United forward Joe Gelhardt to join in the January window amid rumours of both teams' interest in his signature ahead of the new year.

Gelhardt has been stuck watching on from the sidelines at Leeds so far this season, with a lack of game-time set to force a January exit, either on loan or possibly even on a permanent deal.

The 22-year-old has made just three appearances in all competitions this term, but has previous experience in the Championship and is highly-rated across the EFL, with recent updates surrounding his future offering more clarity on a potential destination for his talents after the turn of the year.

Joe Gelhardt transfer destination verdict issued by Leeds fan pundit

An exclusive report from MOT Leeds News earlier this month revealed that the 22-year-old hopes to seal a temporary move away from Leeds during the winter window, due to his real lack of game-time to date this term.

The Yorkshire Evening Post have now claimed that Plymouth and Portsmouth, along with Rangers, Stoke City and Preston North End and two clubs from Belgium, have all registered their interest in his signature ahead of the January window opening in just over a month's time.

A move certainly looks likely for Gelhardt, and FLW's Whites fan pundit, Adam Elliott, believes that a loan switch to either the Pilgrims or Pompey would suit him in the new year ahead of any other linked sides, after we asked him which team would be the best fit for his style of play.

“With Joe Gelhardt, it’s not just about finding the right club and game-time for him, but it’s also about finding the right role for him,” Adam told FLW.

“At the age of 22 now, he really needs to start to define himself as a player.

“Is he a sort of number 10, second striker in a front two kind of player? Or is he potentially a wide forward, which we have seen him play for us recently?

“I think that needs to be answered first, before we think about the club (that he joins).

“There is obviously a lot of similarities to Wayne Rooney, and that comparison has been made a few times before.

“Rooney is meant to be an admirer of his as well, given that they are from the same part of the world too.

“I do think that that may be the play, and I think that Plymouth is where game-time would be easier to come by than a club like Rangers, or maybe Stoke, where there are probably more forward options ahead of him, like at Leeds.

“So I think linking up with Rooney, who had a similar build and skill-set as a player, and learning from him would probably be for the best.

“I also really like the idea of Portsmouth as well. I think one of those two clubs that have been linked probably makes the most sense for Joe Gelhardt.

“He does just really need to go out and play football, kick on and develop more, because his development really has stagnated in the last few years.”

Joe Gelhardt needs to leave Leeds United in January

Despite his young age, Gelhardt was already an established senior player at Wigan Athletic prior to his move to Elland Road, after he had made 21 appearances for the Latics across two seasons and netted his first Championship goal as a 17-year-old against Hull City in September 2019.

He was prolific in the under-21's side upon arrival at Leeds, and made his Premier League debut for the club in October 2021, then soon bagged his first Whites goal in a December defeat at Chelsea, and netted a noteworthy second a few months later as he tapped home a dramatic added-time winner at Elland Road against Norwich City.

Gelhardt started just one league game in the first six months of the 2022/23 campaign, so he went out on loan to Sunderland and impressed at the Stadium of Light with three goals and three assists in 18 games, but could not quite take the Black Cats to the play-off final as they lost in the semi-finals to Luton Town.

The youngster returned to Elland Road in the summer with Leeds back in the second-tier and Farke at the helm, and many would have expected him to be an important figure last season as the club aimed for an immediate bounce back to the top-flight, but he made just 13 appearances and was given two league starts, as Joel Piroe, Patrick Bamford and Mateo Joseph were largely preferred by the German.

It was a shock to many to see him stay at the club past this summer, and his chances so far this term have been at a real premium, with just 72 minutes played in all competitions after two substitute appearances in the Championship and a start in the 3-0 loss to Middlesbrough in the EFL Cup first round.

He has only been included in Farke's matchday squad once in the last seven Championship games amid strong competition in the attacking unit, and so it is no surprise that the 22-year-old is hoping to seal a loan exit in the new year, but whether that is to one of Plymouth or Portsmouth remains to be seen.