Reports | Liverpool and Chelsea set to battle it out for wonderkid Joe Gelhardt
Liverpool and Chelsea are amongst a number of Premier League giants who are keeping a watchful eye upon 17-year-old wonderkid Joe Gelhardt. Making his senior debut for Wigan Athletic back in April, Gelhardt is considered to be among the brightest upcoming talents in the Championship.
Joe Gelhardt’s rapid progress under Wigan Athletic coach Paul Cook has made many clubs take notice of the 17-year-old’s talent. According to Goal, some of the top-flight English clubs have been monitoring the player’s progress for quite some time now, while both Liverpool and Chelsea scouts have watched him in youth games last season. Other Premier League big guns, such as Liverpool’s Merseyside rivals Everton, Leicester City and Wolves are keen on signing the player.
After scoring the first senior goal of his career in against Burnley in pre-season, Gelhardt said that it was a dream come true. The boyhood Liverpool fan told the Wigan Post, “It's a great moment for me and my family - a very proud moment. When I saw the ball hit the back of the net I was over the moon. It was an unreal moment, my first goal in senior football, it's so special.Â
“I'll remember it for the rest of my life. The first thing I did was look up at mum, who's done everything for me. I hope she enjoyed it as much as I did. There were so many friends and family here to see it, it's a proud moment for sure." he said.
Scouts from various clubs are expected to watch as Gelhardt plays for England Under-18s against Australia this Friday. The U-18s will also be facing Brazil and South Korea in the coming days and the young striker will definitely be on the spotlight in these fixtures.Â