Birmingham City have opened preliminary discussions over a move for Leeds United forward Joe Gelhardt as Chris Davies looks to add more firepower to his squad. The Blues have made promotion their primary objective after falling short last season, and improving their attacking output has become one of the club's clearest priorities. Gelhardt has now emerged as a leading target following an excellent loan spell at Hull City. According to Football Insider, Birmingham are exploring a season-long loan for the 24-year-old, with the possibility of a permanent transfer if they secure promotion to the Premier League.
What happened?
Gelhardt rebuilt his reputation during his temporary spell at Hull City last season. The Leeds United attacker scored 14 goals in the EFL Championship and supplied four assists, playing a major role as the Tigers earned promotion to the Premier League. His performances demonstrated that he can produce consistently in the second tier when given regular football and a clearly defined attacking role.
Why it matters for Birmingham City
The Blues' pursuit is driven by their lack of goals last season. Birmingham scored only 57 times in the Championship, one fewer than relegated Leicester City. That limited return prevented them from establishing themselves as serious promotion contenders. Jay Stansfield finished as the club's joint-leading scorer with 10 goals, but Gelhardt's underlying numbers suggest he could provide a greater penalty-box threat.
What comes next?
A loan with a promotion-related permanent option may prove attractive to all parties and Birmingham would avoid committing a major fee immediately, while Leeds would retain the possibility of securing a permanent sale if the Blues reach the Premier League. Gelhardt would also receive another season of regular Championship football after thriving in the division with Hull. The 24-year-old looks like a strong fit for Birmingham's biggest weakness. Scoring 14 goals for a promoted Hull side showed that he can lead a Championship attack, and his numbers suggest he would offer a more consistent scoring threat than Birmingham possessed last season.
The proposed loan structure also limits the financial risk. Should Gelhardt reproduce his Hull form and help the Blues win promotion, making the deal permanent would become an obvious decision. The main challenge will be convincing Leeds to approve terms that do not leave them undervalued if he delivers another prolific campaign. League standing (final 2025 table -- new season not yet under way): 10th in Championship, 64 pts, 17W-13D-16L from 46 games, recent form DWWDW. Goals this season: 57 scored, 56 conceded (+1 goal difference). Title race: 31 points behind leaders Coventry.
