If there is to be one major criticism of Daniel Farke and the squad that both he and the Leeds United hierarchy have assembled at Elland Road, it is the lack of quality and creativity in the final third.

The sight of Jack Harrison and Brenden Aaronson lining up on the flanks in recent weeks, in particular, perhaps illustrates that point best, with Harrison’s days in Yorkshire looking to have been over after spending the previous two seasons on loan at Everton.

From the delights of Crysencio Summerville and Georginio Rutter in the recent past, there is a real void now in the Whites’ forward line. Where will the magic come from? Which player will truly get the crowd off their seat?

Such concerns have stemmed from a side that has scored just ten goals in 11 Premier League games this season, with centre-back Joe Rodon currently the joint-highest scorer with two goals, alongside Lukas Nmecha and Noah Okafor.

Stodgy and scrappy, there is little to get behind with regard to Farke’s football right now, with a change in the dugout, or January investment, likely to be required.

On the latter point, the Whites could save themselves by reintegrating a handful of forgotten stars, with Joe Gelhardt among those currently thriving out on loan.

Can Leeds recall Gelhardt from Hull City?

At 23, there is a sense that the ship has sailed for Leeds’ former wonderkid, with Gelhardt having burst onto the scene under Marcelo Bielsa, following his arrival from Wigan Athletic in 2020.

Lauded as a “human wrecking ball” by the Argentine genius, the then-teenager did score twice in the Premier League during the 2021/22 campaign, although that was about as good as it got, having since spent recent years on loan at Sunderland and Hull City.

The rampaging left-footer – who has scored three goals in 57 total games for Leeds – initially joined the Tigers in January, before sealing a season-long loan return over the summer, having not been included in Farke’s pre-season plans.

Finally settled and afforded a consistent run of games, the Englishman is relishing his role as Hull’s new talisman, scoring seven goals in just 15 Championship games so far in 2025/26. Hull City manager Sergej Jakirović is among those dishing out the plaudits.

With his parent club currently struggling to fire, there might be a temptation to bring Gelhardt back into the Elland Road fold, not least if there were to be a change in manager.

As reported by Leeds Live last week, however, there are no plans to end the forward’s stay at the MKM stadium, despite the presence of a recall clause, with the 5 foot 9 star expected to see out the campaign with the second-tier side.

As noted by The Athletic’s Beren Cross – who corroborated those claims – the hope is that such a fruitful loan will enhance his transfer value, with the 23-year-old’s existing Leeds deal set to expire in 2027.

Games (starts)

15 (13)

Goals

7

Mins per goal

159

Big chances missed

4

Goal conversion

19%

Assists

2

Key passes*

0.9

Big chances created

2

Successful dribbles*

1.3

A return might not be on the cards then for Gelhardt, but could it be for arguably an even bigger talent?

Leeds loan star has "similarities to Summerville"

Among the criticisms of Farke’s tenure of late is the treatment of Largie Ramazani, with the Manchester United academy graduate having been restricted to a bit-part role following his arrival from Almeria in the summer of 2024.

A player lauded as having “so many similarities to Summerville” – in the words of analyst Ben Mattinson – due to his blistering pace and trickery on the flanks, the fleet-footed forward was restricted to just seven starts in the Championship last time out.

That limited role may have come amid issues with injury, although even when fit and firing, Farke tended to look elsewhere, despite the fact that the 24-year-old still managed to chip in with six goals and two assists from his 29 total league appearances.

That matches the eight goals involvements he chalked up in LaLiga the year prior for Almeria, have already proven – unlike Gelhardt – that he can flourish in one of Europe’s top five leagues.

Also hailed as “the mini-Vinicius” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, during his first stint in Spain, the diminutive winger is an undoubted talent, with Leeds unfortunately yet to truly see the best of him.

Frustratingly for Ramazani too, neither have his current loan club, Valencia, with his return to LaLiga yielding just a solitary assist thus far, having again been pushed out to the periphery at the Mestalla.

Perhaps that suggests Farke was right to send him on his way, although at a time when Leeds are missing a spark, a player to bring a renewed level of excitement, the Summerville-esque speedster could well have provided just that.

Thankfully, as Cross reported, the Whites do have the option to end Ramazani’s temporary stay and bring him back to England, albeit with the most likely outcome set to be the forward then heading back out on loan for the remainder of the season.

Farke – or a potential successor in the dugout – will hopefully have a change of heart, with the forgotten Belgian arguably the player that Leeds should be looking to reintegrate, despite Gelhardt’s continued brilliance.

Farke has "wrecking ball" out on loan who can end Aaronson's Leeds career

Leeds could turn to this player to help solve their attacking issues

ByJoe Nuttall