It's been long rumoured that Newcastle United have been interested in Leeds United winger Jack Harrison but now is a crucial point in the 26-year-old's time with the Whites as he enters talks for a new contract which would see him stay at Elland Road beyond 2024.
It was reported in the summer that the Magpies put forward at least one bid for Harrison's services and while his current contract runs out in just over 18 months, Leeds director of football Victor Orta believes it's the right time to begin negotiations now in order to ward off clubs eyeing him up for a potential January move.
Having only been a permanent fixture of Elland Road for around 14 months after his long three-year loan stint from Manchester City, Harrison has made himself a key part of the dressing room having made 180 appearances for the Whites already but won't make many more if media rumours continue to surround the star.
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And while he's not been able to carry his early-season form up to the break for the World Cup, having not scored or assisted a goal since mid-August, the interest in him from the summer transfer window hasn't seemed to die down yet.
But after losing such key players as Raphinha and Kalvin Phillips, Leeds will put up an incredibly tough fight with any club - let alone a Premier League rival - to keep Harrison at Elland Road although rumours circulating in the media over a winter move away won't make their cause any easier.
Speaking at the Whites' Spanish training camp, Harrison admitted that amidst the outside noise around his future destinations, he believes the club and him can come to an agreement soon.
"I enjoy being here at the club, I love being here," he told LeedsLive. "I've been here a long time now and I'm almost part of the furniture here now.
"It's a great place to be, I'm happy to be here and I think my agent is coming over in the next month to sort something out with Victor. So we'll see what happens."
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