Sunderland look to have won the battle to sign Leeds United striker Joe Gelhardt on loan. Last week the 20-year-old appeared destined to rejoin Wigan Athletic - the club where he started his career - on loan for the remainder of the season, but nothing was finalised.
Sunderland and Blackburn Rovers put alternative offers to Leeds, and both could offer Gelhardt the prospect of becoming part of a play-off challenge rather than the relegation fight that basement club Wigan are facing. And according to The Athletic, the Black Cats have now reached an agreement with Leeds to bring Gelhardt to Wearside and the player is expected to undergo a medical at the Academy of Light tomorrow.
Gelhardt came to the fore at Wigan and despite scoring just one goal in 21 outings for the Latics, he was quickly snapped up by Leeds in 2020. He scored two Premier League goals in 20 games for Leeds last season, but has not scored in 15 outings this term - although the majority of his top flight appearances have come from the bench.
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Sunderland have been desperate to sign at least one striker during the January transfer window as competition and cover for top scorer Ross Stewart, who is currently the club's sole out-and-out centre-forward since Everton recalled Ellis Simms from his loan spell with the Black Cats at the beginning of the month. Head coach Tony Mowbray said today that he was 'hopeful' that the club would land a striker before Tuesday's deadline, and it appears they are now on the verge of doing so.
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