Birmingham City and Wrexham eye ‘exceptional’ star who has been told he can leave Premier League club

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EFL Analysis can reveal that newly-promoted duo Birmingham and Wrexham target Leeds United forward, who is destined for a Championship move this summer.

Birmingham City and Wrexham both took League One by storm last season, and the newly-promoted duo are intending to do the same in the 2025/26 Championship.

Both teams have been linked with several transfer targets so far in the summer transfer window, with Birmingham waiting on Crystal Palace’s Jesurun Rak-Sakyi decision.

At Wrexham, the Red Dragons are poised to confirm the signing of Ryan Hardie from Plymouth Argyle, and one EFL expert believes Wrexham will make a “very smart” signing with the 12-goal forward.

EFL Analysis can exclusively reveal that the duo are among the Championship clubs now targeting an “exceptional” Premier League forward.

• READ MORE: Wrexham must sign Championship free agent this summer, Phil Parkinson knows he has ‘immense quality’

Birmingham City and Wrexham target Leeds United forward Joe Gelhardt

EFL Analysis understands, via information from our Chief Football correspondent Graeme Bailey, that Leeds United have told Joe Gelhardt he can leave this summer, and he is destined for another Championship move this summer.

Gelhardt spent the first half of the 2024/25 Championship campaign with parent club Leeds, before joining Hull City on loan in the January transfer window, and went on to score five goals in 20 second tier appearances for the Tigers to help them dodge relegation under Ruben Selles.

We can confirm that the newly-promoted duo of Birmingham and Wrexham are among the clubs to show an interest in the 23-year-old forward.

Gelhardt spent much of last season at Hull, but he has two years left on his current deal at Elland Road.

EFL Analysis can reveal that Leeds’ promotion back to the Premier League has seen Gelhardt’s contract return to its previous levels, thus making a permanent exit somewhat difficult.

With that, we are told another loan move is now likely for Gelhardt. Birmingham and Wrexham aside, there are a number of Championship clubs keen on landing him.

Gelhardt’s abilities and versatility are just two aspects of his game that explain why a host of Championship clubs are targeting him this summer, after recently-sacked Hull boss Selles sung the praises of the Leeds academy graduate.

• READ MORE: Wrexham boss Phil Parkinson will be hoping Danny Ward can put ‘hard to see’ season with Leicester City behind him

Leeds United loanee Joe Gelhardt was ‘exceptional’ at Hull for Ruben Selles

Gelhardt played in every Hull game following his mid-season loan switch from Leeds and helped claw the Tigers to safety on the final day of the season at Portsmouth.

Despite only joining in January, the Liverpool-born forward finished the campaign as Hull’s second top goalscorer on five, one goal behind Joao Pedro’s six strikes.

Hull wanted Gelhardt back next term, but with Selles having been sacked by Hull, his return to the MKM Stadium is unlikely.

Selles was a great admirer of the versatile forward. Via Hull Live, he said: “It has been a pleasure for us to have Joe. His way to work has been exceptional.”

Amid his time at Leeds, Gelhardt was loaned out to Sunderland in the 2022/23 season, and scored three goals and notched three assists under Tony Mowbray as the Black Cats’ campaign ended with a play-off semi-final defeat to eventual winners Luton Town.

Gelhardt is a comfortable operator in a handful of attacking roles, with his tenacious style of play and bullish nature as a constant thorn in the side of second tier defences.