As the first of Leeds United’s squad returned for pre-season testing today, there’s one player that fans weren’t wanting to see a sneak peak of in the new training kit.
Daniel Farke is already welcoming new players into his Leeds squad for the start of pre-season this week, and there’s reason for fans to be optimistic that this season will be different for us than it was for the last six promoted sides.
Ambitious is clearly there to add the right amount of quality, athleticism, and depth to Farke’s squad, but along with the fresh additions Leeds fans want to see, there’s outgoings to address sooner rather than later.
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Leeds United back in pre-season with 24/25 promotion-winners pictured
Monday July 7 brought the first steps of Leeds’ preparation for the upcoming Premier League campaign, as the squad return to West Yorkshire for pre-season testing.
The club teased pictures of the group all wearing bright smiles as they undergo the first bit of testing after some well-earned time off.
Included in that was Pascal Struijk, notably, who missed the last month of the Championship season with a foot fracture, now working back to full fitness after an initial 10-week prognosis.
Struijk and centre-back partner Joe Rodon have a pivotal pre-season looming with two centre-backs signed as competition in Jaka Bijol and Sebastiaan Bornauw.
Elephant in the room: Leeds United have Jack Harrison headache to resolve
Given that the players contracted to the club are due back at Thorp Arch this week, it means there’s one player that many Leeds fans would rather not see back in Leeds colours: Jack Harrison.
(REUTERS/Carl Recine)
Harrison notably spent two loan spells at Everton since Leeds’ 2023 relegation, and both Sean Dyche and David Moyes clearly admired the winger’s work ethic, but he failed to muster up any consistency to be a must-sign for the Toffees – scoring four and assisting three in 63 Premier League appearances across two loans.
There’s a virtually unanimous sentiment amongst the fanbase that the winger is not welcome back at the club after how he and a certain family member conducted themselves during his time at Goodison Park, making it clear that bridges are surely burned between him and Elland Road match-goers.
That being said, he’s still Leeds United’s asset to make a decision on, and Farke might see him as a useful left-footer to have a look at in the coming weeks as a squad player, knowing he’s a very capable presser, as much as his crossing, dribbling, and general attacking output has not been of Premier League standard since jumping ship.
Signed for £11million and on a contract until 2028, with a book value estimated at £2.2million, Leeds have a great opportunity to post a cool PSR profit with a permanent exit for Harrison.
What is obvious is that whether he re-signs for Everton permanently or miraculously stays put at Leeds for 25/26, he’s definitely going to receive a very frosty reception when the two sides face off on Monday 18th August at Elland Road in the opening game of the campaign.