Transfers may be done with until January, but Leeds United's work in sculpting their squad continues in earnest. Jack Harrison was among the names heavily linked with Elland Road exits this summer, but the Whites held firm.
Newcastle United were connected with the strongest interest, though Tottenham Hotspur were also credited with keeping a close eye on the winger. Harrison inadvertently poured petrol on the fire in a clumsy post-match interview in Australia, but other than that there has been little to fan the flames.
Andrea Radrizzani set the record straight in his own interview last month on Harrison’s future and then on deadline day Jesse Marsch underlined an exit was non-negotiable. It’s fantastic for players to feel wanted and valued, but in the modern game, if a club is going to deny a footballer a chance to earn more money elsewhere, it generally requires a new contract to reflect that player’s growing status.
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“Jack has been great,” said Marsch. “From day one he’s been one of the players who has adapted best to what we’re trying to do now.
“He’s having a really excellent start to the season and so he’s happy here. I haven’t even discussed anything with Jack about transfers because, for us, it’s a non-negotiable situation.
“Jack has even more room for improvement and he will continue to do so.”
Harrison’s under contract until 2024 and United don’t have to immediately offer him new terms or more money because they turned down a few Newcastle bids. Interested parties would not be able to offer Harrison terms of their own until January 2024, and even then that’s only clubs outside the UK.
Time is still on United’s side in that regard, but it’s about optics, avoiding transfer drama down the line, keeping the player happy and putting a number on the valuation you have given him in knocking back bids for his services. Even if Harrison were allowed to get within 18 or 12 months of his contract expiry, it would pose questions about his future and absolutely pull in more suitors looking to get him on the cheap.
As it is, there is little doubt Leeds will sit down to negotiate a new contract with Harrison based on Radrizzani and Marsch’s recent comments. He is a part of the furniture at Leeds now and after that strange phase of three consecutive season-long loans, he is fifth in the appearance chart of the current squad.
At 25, Harrison is still three or four years away from his supposed peak years, while England talk has permeated the media with the World Cup on the horizon. After six matches, only Mohamed Salah and Kevin De Bruyne have delivered more key passes than Harrison across the Premier League.
The winger’s injury record has been phenomenal since he arrived, making his availability another major plus point in keeping him at Elland Road. Harrison’s a durable, hard runner whose keen to learn according to those who have worked with him.
After a summer of chasing new faces, United's attention should turn to retaining their best players for their best years and Harrison, based on the interest in him, is sure to be among the first called into the boardroom.
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