It’s coming up to two years since Jack Harrison signed a fresh five-year deal at Elland Road and he has only played nine competitive games for Leeds United from that point.
There is a clause in the terms of that deal which allows the winger to go out on loan for every season United spend out of the top flight. As a result, he has played the last two campaigns at Everton under four coaches, both temporary and permanent.
It would be an interesting temperature check to see whether United fans still see a future for him at his parent club. The winger has not played a single minute for Daniel Farke during a regular season and it all points to one conclusion.
Farke has underlined how he only wants players in his squad who are committed to Leeds United. Harrison has hardly shown that in recent times, nor when that aforementioned clause was inserted, if true.
It’s not outlandish to suggest Farke would have never agreed to such a caveat, the German coach arriving only a few months after Harrison put pen to paper. That decision is on the former regime, not necessarily the player.
The club has a right to say no and dismiss alterations to the small print. Whether it was a deal breaker in negotiations will perhaps never be known but if the clause is indeed real, it would indicate United felt they were going to bounce straight back up to the Premier League.
Should Leeds finally manage this at the second time of asking, the scene will have somewhat changed to the last time they were in the top flight. The 49ers Enterprises are now in firm control of the club and are due to assess the current boardroom structure with a key figure set to exit.
Whites CEO Angus Kinnear, who will have had a hand in Harrison’s last contract, is set to leave for Everton at the end of the season after eight years with United. Peter McCormick has come in as executive vice chairman but is not a replacement for Kinnear, the club due to mull over their next steps in that regard.
Kinnear was at the helm when Harrison first arrived at Leeds and he might oversee his permanent arrival at Everton too. The attacker has dropped a very heavy hint about where he would like to play his football next season.
The Toffees have been taken over by the Friedkin Group, the owners of Roma, and have grand ambitions for the club. They will begin their first full season in a shiny new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock.
"I think with new ownership, new manager, and going to an amazing new stadium next season, this is somewhere I want to be,” Everton loanee Harrison confessed.
Jack Harrison celebrates with teammate Abdoulaye Doucoure after scoring the opening goal during the Premier League match between Wolverhampton Wanderers FC and Everton FC at Molineux. Photo by Ed Sykes/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images
Jack Harrison celebrates with teammate Abdoulaye Doucoure after scoring the opening goal during the Premier League match between Wolverhampton Wanderers FC and Everton FC at Molineux. Photo by Ed Sykes/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images
“It would be exciting to be part of a bigger picture and help a club get from where we have been for the past couple of years to fighting for European football again, and then even more in the way of silverware.
"With the size of Everton and this fan base, with how passionate they are, there's no reason why the club can't achieve that, and who wouldn't want to be part of it?"
As far as United are concerned, his permanent exit to Merseyside could actually help solve a problem rather than cause one. As things stand, Leeds do not need Harrison with Farke’s squad boasting the best wing options in the Championship.
Of course, the picture changes should promotion be secured but that will perhaps force the club to make a decision on Manor Solomon. They are refraining from launching a permanent pursuit just yet with it unclear what division they will be in next season.
Farke has outlined that the differences in finance between the Championship and the Premier League impacts both transfer and contract decisions. Blueprints are being drawn up for both end-of-season scenarios but the hope is that one will never be used, of course.
Should Leeds gain promotion then that opens the door for a Solomon pursuit. The Tottenham Hotspur loanee would cost a fair amount but that could perhaps be part-funded by the sale of Harrison.
But even if the worst does happen, United would cope fine without Harrison. The club are not prepared to part with Wilfried Gnonto given his recent contract renewal in August while Largie Ramazani is tied down until 2028.
Daniel James is clearly first choice right now but top flight outfits may circle should Leeds fail to go up. Meanwhile, a move for Solomon will be off the table. So, the carrot of promotion is clear - though it might have little bearing on Harrison’s future at Elland Road.