Leeds United

Leeds United have avoided major Jack Harrison transfer mistake: Our View

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Jack Harrison was retained by Leeds United in the January transfer window at the eleventh hour, with The Athletic reporting that the club pulled the plug on a move to Leicester City.

Leeds have let Harrison’s contract at Elland Road tick into its final 18 months and, unless that’s sorted, more transfer speculation is on the horizon.

Does Harrison have a future at Leeds?

WOLVERHAMPTON, ENGLAND – MARCH 18: Jack Harrison of Leeds United celebrates after scoring the team’s first goal during the Premier League match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Leeds United at Molineux on March 18, 2023 in Wolverhampton, England. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)

You’d like to think he does and there’s been plenty of suggestions that a new contract could be on the table.

However, with Javi Gracia attempting to lure the 26-year-old’s best levels out of him since his appointment and Leeds still fully submerged in a relegation battle with Leicester, it’s a slightly different situation to consider.

Our writers Kris (FA5) and Alfie (N12) discuss whether Leeds have done the right thing not selling Harrison to Leicester.

Before Gracia performed a turnaround for a lot of these players, it looked like terrible business not to cash in on Harrison.

However, with how he is playing under new management, you have to say it’s smart business to keep him here and therefore not strengthen a direct rival that is sinking fast in Leicester.

Four goal involvements in as many games has helped us pick up seven massive points and should he continue that, he’ll be worth far more to Leeds than the £20million that they could have got in January.

I still wouldn’t be against fielding offers for him in the summer from whoever is interested, but keeping him mid-season has proved to be the right decision for now.

Will Harrison sign a new Leeds contract?

Yes

Yes

No

No

If Leeds aren’t signing Harrison up to a new contract, they’ve just waved away the last window in which they were going to pull in a fee for his service reflecting his quality.

Seeing Harrison leave on a cut-price deal now or on a free further down the line would be a bitter pill to swallow because of that. However, it’s quite obvious that Leeds have done the right thing in not selling him to Leicester.

Leicester are a side that you’ve always felt would pull away from trouble this season eventually. The truth is, though, that they haven’t been able to do that and are bang in trouble with Leeds.

With hindsight, it would’ve looked such a poor decision selling a player of Harrison’s quality to a direct rival in the middle of the season.

Gracia is also threatening to lure Harrison’s best back out of him. He’s scored twice and registered two assists in four games under the Spaniard, with his performance at Wolves looking much more like the Harrison of old.

If he can continue that form he could be a big player for Leeds in what remains of this season, having that crucial final third influence to keep the club up. Who knows, that might even be at the expense of Leicester.

The big updated Jack Harrison quiz – Can Leeds United fans score 20/20?

1 of 20

In what year was Harrison born?

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Leeds United Season Ticket Holder at Elland Road for over 20 seasons. Currently nestled in N12, but occasionally offering views from the press box. We’ve been through it all together? You bet.