Everton have the next Wayne Rooney on their radar but face competition
Everton has Joe Gelhardt on the radar but is facing competition from Celtic.
Wayne Rooney is fondly remembered not only as a Manchester United legend but also as an English icon of the game. However, his footballing foundations were laid at Everton and that is why he is a loved figure at the club. To pay his respect and show love for his boyhood club, the Englishman returned to Everton in 2017 for one season before moving to MLS.
A player of his stature is very rare to find but the football gods have aligned and cast their spell to create a reincarnate of Wayne Rooney. Not that Rooney is no longer a part of the football industry but his years at the top have faded and he is slowly moving towards the second stint in football that is the coaching.
Wigan Athletic striker Joe Gelhardt is touted as the next Wayne Rooney and has attracted interest in his breakthrough season. The 18 year old graduated from the Wigan academy and has risen up the ranks, making 16 appearances in the Championship this term. Though Gelhardt has scored just once, the signs are promising from the striker.
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Everton have noticed his capabilities and are interested in signing the 18 year old. It would be a remarkable plot for the media where Everton will give the platform to the ‘next Wayne Rooney’ to hone his skills and transform into a supreme talent. However, when you talk about a potential generational talent, there will be clubs hovering like pesky flies around the player.
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According to Football Insider, Scottish Premiership champions Celtic are keen to bring Joe Gelhardt to Glasgow. It is expected that Wigan will bid farewell to several players in order to pump money into the crumbling finances. The Englishman will be one of many to leave DW Stadium.
Now, if Everton are serious about Gelhardt, pursuing the player won’t be a daunting task. It is clear even to a layman that the 18 year old won’t be first team regular, most likely to play in the U-23 team. However, if he’s able to impress the club management and Carlo Ancelotti, the Italian may give him a chance to shine on world’s grandest stage in the Premier League. Anthony Gordon can attest the above notion.
Ancelotti has shown tremendous faith in the 19 year old Gordon and the player has repaid every ounce of trust with sparkling performances. Joe Gelhardt can follow a similar model at Goodison but Celtic is adamant on taking the young sensation to Scotland.
The striker looks ahead of his age and has shown terrific confidence. He is extremely impressive on the ball and has showcased his exceptional shooting abilities. He’ll only get better with time and exposure and his career trajectory only seems to go upwards.
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Whether the Toffees seize the opportunity of not only having an exquisite talent in their ranks but also creating a buzzing photo op by housing the ‘next Wayne Rooney’ remains to be seen.