Why Everton signing Joe Gelhardt would be a good move for the future
As per Football Insider (h/t The Shields Gazette), Everton are preparing to sign Wigan Athletic forward Joe Gelhardt before the end of the season.
Gelhardt, 17, came through Wigan’s youth ranks and was promoted to the first-team last summer. He made his league debut in April 2019, appearing as a second-half substitute against Birmingham City. He has been a member of the squad since then.
The youngster has featured in 15 games this season in the Championship and has scored one goal. Despite Wigan struggling in the second-tier, Gelhardt has been impressive in his short cameos. He has also done a decent job in the FA Youth Cup competition in the last two seasons, scoring 3 and 2 goals in the respective campaigns.
Meanwhile, Carlo Ancelotti’s men have not been consistent despite doing well in the latter stages of the competition. After just 3 wins in their last 9 league games, they have slipped to 12th position in the league table. That said, Ancelotti would be wise to bring in reinforcements for next season.
One key area that needs to be strengthened is the centre-forward position, where only Dominic Calvert-Lewin has performed well. Italian youngster Moise Kean was brought in last summer to boost the attacking options but he has failed to do so.
Turkish international Cenk Tosun was sent on loan after a disappointing start to the season but has returned due to a season-ending injury he picked up. And Oumar Niasse has also failed to convince the manager for a spot in the team sheet. Therefore, the manager must bring in fresh faces to bolster the depth in the squad and Wigan’s Joe Gelhardt would be a suitable option.
The 17-year-old has made waves with his impressive displays in the Championship this term. He has also scored 3 goals in 6 games for England’s U18 side and is fast developing into a proper player.
Gelhardt can also operate as a right-winger and he could be able to lead the Toffees attack in the future, given his potential.
Read more
- Why Everton should keep hold of Moise Kean amidst interest from Roma
- Why Everton should swoop in Thiago Silva on a free transfer this summer
- Why Everton should plot a summer swoop for Santos star Yeferson Soteldo
Verdict
With Everton having limited options upfront, Gelhardt’s inclusion would give them the much-needed competition and depth in the squad. The youngster can be seen as their future player.
Therefore, the Toffees must lure the Liverpool-born talent in the summer ahead of his other admirers including Manchester United and Chelsea, as per the report.
