Manchester United and Liverpool are among clubs that are chasing the signature of Wigan youngster Joe Gelhardt in the summer.
ESPN are claiming that Manchester United and Liverpool are set to lock horns in the transfer market for an English player. Joe Gelhardt is attracting interest from United, Liverpool and Everton, with the clubs set to test Wigan’s resolve of retaining the prodigious striker.
Joe Gelhardt is widely regarded as one of the exciting prospects in his age group. The striker made his debut for the Wigan Under-18s at 15 and is now a regular within the side. At the international level, Gelhardt has appearances for the Under-15 and Under-16 sides of England under his belt.
Gelhardt is associated with Wigan from the age of 10 and has agreed scholarship terms for the 2018-19 season. But, he might not be able to honour it, with the 16-year-old on the radar of Manchester United, Liverpool and Everton.
Liverpool, Man United & Everton are lining up moves for Wigan’s 16-year old teenage sensation Joe Gelhardt – Who is regarded as one of the most exciting youngsters in the country. [@ESPN] pic.twitter.com/lyhwXcDI28
— LFC Transfer Room (@LFCTransferRoom) June 11, 2018
The report iterates Gelhardt put in impressive shifts for England at the Montaigu Tournament in France, wherein he scored 2 goals as England finished third in the competition. The aforementioned might be a plausible cause for United, Liverpool and Everton’s interest in the striker.
Manchester United’s youth recruitment drive has started to pay dividends. The Under-18 side captured the league title in North, despite disappointing in the FA Youth Cup. And Nicky Butt plans to keep the recruitment going at full pace. One of the areas of concern has been the forward department, with the Under-23s also lacking an out-and-out striker.
With several Under-youngsters set to be promoted to the Under-23 squad, vacancies will be created within the Under-18 squad and Gelhardt could become the new leader of Manchester United’s attack at the Under-18 level.
For Liverpool and Everton, the need to recruit the best youngsters in the region is paramount. Jurgen Klopp and Marco Silva are two managers who have a knack for promoting youth, making the job of creating a good squad at the youth level that much important.
For now, Wigan have high hopes from Gelhardt and will attempt to brush off any attempt from the likes of Manchester United, Liverpool and Everton to nab the 16-year-old. But, with the financial prowess of the trio, along with the difference in stature and level of facilities, it will be tough to stave off the suitors for long, especially with Gelhardt on scholarship terms.