The Leeds United transfer decision which looks to have impacted Everton

Ellis Simms spent the first half of the season on loan at Sunderland with the Championship club now signing Joe Geldhardt.
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Leeds United striker Joe Gelhardt has joined Sunderland on loan for the remainder of the season.

The 20-year-old has made 15 appearances this campaign for the Whites but joins the Black Cats for regular senior action.

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Certainly, Gelhardt will bolster Sunderland's attacking options as they push for a Championship play-off spot.

And his move to the Stadium of Light could have an impact on Everton marksman Ellis Simms' future.

Simms spent the first half of the season on loan at Sunderland where he netted seven goals in 17 appearances. However, he was recalled to Goodison Park earlier this month to bolster the Toffees' attacking options.

Simms has made two outings since returning to Everton. And FIFA rules state that players are only allowed to represent two clubs in a single season.

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That means that the 21-year-old can only either play for the Blues or Sunderland. And with the Black Cats bolstering their forward options, a return to the Stadium of Light may be off the cards.

Everton have still to appoint a new manager after sacking Frank Lampard, although Sean Dyche is soon to be announced. Still, Sunderland boss Tony Mowbray admitted Simms heading back to Wearside was unlikely.

Mowbray said: "With what's going on at Everton, it looks pretty unlikely that Ellis will be coming back - they haven't got a manager and if I was going in there, I'd want to see all the players on the grass and see if they might be able to help. That looks like a really tight thing to rely on, because he might well not come back.”