Middlesbrough were linked with a move for Joe Gelhardt in the summer. It is suggested that despite a change in the coaching staff at the Riverside since then, head of football Kieran Scott may still have Gelhardt on a potential list of targets.

City were able to prevent Middlesbrough from signing Joe Gelhardt before his current 10 goals for the campaign, and it is expected that they will eventually sign the 23-year-old from his parent club Leeds United on a permanent basis. The move could happen once their transfer restrictions end after the current window. Hull City's owner, Acun Ilicali, has stated that the club's target is to sign Gelhardt permanently, noting that the player made sacrifices to return. According to Football League World's fan pundit Cameron Gibson, a fee of up to £10m could be required to complete a permanent transfer.