Leeds United‘s Jack Harrison is set to enter contract talks with the club, amid transfer deadline day interest from Leicester City.
That’s according to Phil Hay of The Athletic, who believes the 26-year-old will sit down with the club next month to thrash out terms over a new deal.
Beren Cross of Leeds Live first announced last month that contract talks were set to begin with Harrison in the near future, he said: “The winger’s agent is set to sit down with Victor Orta.”
Harrison’s current deal expires in 18 months time in the summer of 2024, which has left his future up in the air with Leicester the most keen on signing him. David Ornstein of The Athletic outlined last week that the Whites rejected a bid of around £20million from the Foxes for Harrison.
Quiz: Has Jack Harrison scored a Leeds United goal against these 15 clubs? Yes or No?
Speaking on The Phil Hay Show, Hay outlined the club’s stance on Harrison: “There’s been a lot of talk over the weekend about Leicester’s interest, which is very real.
“The situation Harrison is in is complicated slightly by his contract, which is down to the last 18 months, and you almost feel at this stage if Leeds are being sensible, then one of two things has to happen.
“Either, they sell him and take as much money as they can at this point, on the basis that in the summer his value is going to be diminished quite significantly, or they retain him through the deadline and get him tied to a new contract.“
Hay believes contract talks will be in place for next month when the window has shut, with Harrison set to stay, he added: “I understand that talks on that front are arranged, are planned for the other side of the window. That is on the assumption that Harrison is still here.
“The gut feeling is he will stay.“
It is essential that the Whites agree a new deal with Harrison to protect the asset of the player with the club. It is a sensible choice to keep him this month.
He will have a year left on his deal, which leaves the club vulnerable to cut-price deals for the winger. A new contract doesn’t mean he must be kept this summer, simply that he retains his value, and the right decision has been made in rejecting Leicester’s advances to hang onto him.
Harrison is far too important in terms of sheer volume of games played. The best ability is availability and Harrison rarely misses matches at all. It is important to have such qualities in a squad in a relegation battle. The winger has been an important player at Leeds for a while, even if there is more competition for places in his position than at any previous point of his Leeds career.
Should Leeds consider selling Harrison this summer?
Yes
No
