Jesse Marsch has revealed that Joe Gelhardt trained with Leeds United on Friday amid reports that he is close to re-joining Championship outfit Wigan Athletic.
Gelhardt is considering a return to the DW Stadium on a loan deal until the end of the season, according to The Athletic. The 20-year-old has struggled for game time under Marsch this season so far - amassing just 202 minutes of action in the Premier League.
The arrival of club record signing Georginio Rutter from Hoffenheim, coupled with the return of Patrick Bamford from injury will further reduce his chances of featuring in the first team. However, Marsch has confirmed that Gelhardt is still training with the club despite the uncertainty surrounding his immediate future.
"Joe Gelhardt is still in the building, he trained today," Marsch said in his pre-match press conference ahead of Sunday's clash against Brentford.
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Gelhardt has been subject to interest from a number of Championship clubs, and looks set to help his former club Wigan stave off relegation to League One. Swansea City were also credited with an interest in Gelhardt earlier in the window, but the report suggests that the Swans are expected to lose out in the race to sign the Leeds forward.
The Latics currently sit at the foot of the table in the second-tier, and are four points adrift of safety. Gelhardt left the DW Stadium for Leeds in 2020, after Wigan went into administration following their relegation from the Championship.
Gelhardt joined Wigan's youth ranks at the age of 10, and went onto score one goal in 21 appearances across all competitions for the club.
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