Joe Gelhardt becomes Leeds United’s first signing of Premier League return

The Whites are looking to add quality ahead of a first top-flight campaign since 2003-04, but remain on the lookout for talent Marcelo Bielsa can develop as he has with 23-year-old Harrison.

England youth international Gelhardt is not the proven goal-getter they hope to sign this summer, but they can develop the 18-year-old for the longer term, and he has signed a four-year deal.

Gelhardt made his first-team debut at Rotherham United in the League Cup as a 16-year-old in August 2018. He has only started two Championship matches, coming off the bench a further 17 times, and his only goal came in a 2-2 draw at Hull City last September.

The undisclosed fee is thought to be in the region of £1m.

Last season’s Championship winners still need an experienced goalscorer. Patrick Bamford is the only senior centre-forward at Elland Road, although Tyler Roberts has at times deputised there.

Jean-Kevin Augustin was loaned in January to provide competition, and the Whites have a £20m obligation to make the deal permanent, but having failed to impress Bielsa, Leeds are looking at the fine print.

They have been linked with Brentford’s Ollie Watkins and Said Benrahma but are continuing to look at youngsters Bielsa can mould.

Fulham’s Cody Drameh is another they are thought to be interested in. Principally a right-back, the 18-year-old has also played on the wing, at centre-back and on the left of defence.

The England Under-18 international is yet to play first-team football and with only a year left on his contract, it is expected he too would be available for around £1m.

Harrison let slip last week he would be back for a third season. He has joined on another season-long loan, but Leeds have the option of making this one permanent, as they have this summer with winger Helder Costa and Illan Meslier.

Editor’s note: first and foremost - and rarely have I written down these words with more sincerity - I hope this finds you well.

Almost certainly you are here because you value the quality and the integrity of the journalism produced by The Yorkshire Post’s journalists - almost all of which live alongside you in Yorkshire, spending the wages they earn with Yorkshire businesses - who last year took this title to the industry watchdog’s Most Trusted Newspaper in Britain accolade.

And that is why I must make an urgent request of you: as advertising revenue declines, your support becomes evermore crucial to the maintenance of the journalistic standards expected of The Yorkshire Post. If you can, safely, please buy a paper or take up a subscription. We want to continue to make you proud of Yorkshire’s National Newspaper but we are going to need your help.

Postal subscription copies can be ordered by calling 0330 4030066 or by emailing [email protected]. Vouchers, to be exchanged at retail sales outlets - our newsagents need you, too - can be subscribed to by contacting subscriptions on 0330 1235950 or by visiting www.localsubsplus.co.uk where you should select The Yorkshire Post from the list of titles available.

If you want to help right now, download our tablet app from the App / Play Stores. Every contribution you make helps to provide this county with the best regional journalism in the country.

Sincerely. Thank you.

James Mitchinson

Editor