Leeds United are going to be hoping Jack Harrison secures a permanent exit from the club in the coming months, with exploratory talks taking place already with MLS clubs over his potential return across the Atlantic.
Rasmus Kristensen reportedly has an agreement in place to join Eintracht Frankfurt on a permanent deal, which leaves Leeds with one more loose end to tie up on the loan clauses front.
Jack Harrison is the other player still out on loan from the club by virtue of a clause in his contract, and he’s eyeing a move away long-term.
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Jack Harrison holding preliminary talks with MLS clubs over return to USA
(Photo by James Gill – Danehouse/Getty Images)
The YEP reported this week that Harrison has been holding exploratory talks with MLS clubs over the possibility of returning across the Atlantic to the United States.
Harrison of course started his senior career in the US, breaking through at New York City FC in a star-studded lineup, before moving between the City Group to Manchester City – spending most of his time while on City’s books on loan at Elland Road before his £11million transfer in 2021.
No offers have yet been tabled by any of the unnamed MLS clubs said to be interested in signing the winger, while Harrison himself is open to returning to the league, with his partner being from Costa Rica, the move back to North America makes sense from a personal perspective too.
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Journalist: Harrison would need to be MLS ‘designated player’ if he moved
(Photo by Simon Stacpoole/Offside/Offside via Getty Images)
The finances behind an MLS club signing a Premier League winger at the age of 28 are tricky, and journalist Graeme Bailey believes that Harrison would have to be named an MLS club’s ‘designated player’ signing – a signing that foregoes the MLS’ salary cap rules for the senior squad.
“He’d have to be a DP (designated player),” Bailey said to LeedsUnited.news. “We know he likes it over there (USA). There is contact over there, I wouldn’t rule it out, but he’s on a very large wage in the Premier League,” Bailey said.
“He’s got until 2028 at Leeds; it would be very difficult for an MLS club to sign him, and he’d have to be a DP player – and there aren’t many DP slots available.
“I wouldn’t rule it out, but I’m not sure about that.
“Leeds have a good squad, but when you get a player with Premier League experience in Harrison, I wouldn’t rule him out of a return to Leeds.”
Jack Harrison will not be returning to Leeds’ squad next season
Harrison has totally burned his bridges at the club, so there is no chance that he ever sets foot on the pitch in a Leeds shirt again.
That ship has sailed, and it means the club will be looking to find a permanent offer from a club capable of signing him.
The MLS makes a lot of sense for all parties, given that they likely have the finances to give us the right offer, while also paying his wages.