Everton have announced the exit of winger Jack Harrison, now due to return to Leeds United after two years on Merseyside.
Leeds’ business can officially get underway at the end of this week with the summer transfer window opening in June, and there are players that already need swift decisions to be made on their future.
Jack Harrison is one of those, coming out of another inconsistent and underwhelming loan spell with Everton, and now confirmed by the Toffees to be leaving after the conclusion of the Premier League season.
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He is now due to return to Elland Road with his future obviously up in the air after two controversial exits and a less-than-desirable relationship with the Leeds fans to say the least.
Three options appear available to the 49ers as they decide what to do with Harrison this summer…
Option 1: Sell Jack Harrison to boost Leeds United’s PSR standing and close door on unsavoury situation
The first and seemingly most satisfying solution to the predicament is just cutting ties with the winger on a permanent basis.
(Photo by James Gill – Danehouse/Getty Images)
He’s not likely to be welcomed back to Elland Road with open arms by the fanbase after not only the manner of how he jumped ship straight after relegation, but staying there following the Wembley loss, while footage of his mother saying she wouldn’t dare let him re-join us did nothing ease tensions.
According to The Athletic, the winger’s book value at the club while contracted until 2028 is between £2.5-3million, meaning Leeds shouldn’t find it too difficult to find a suitor that gives them an offer higher than that and closer to eight figures.
Selling Harrison for that amount would allow Leeds to reinvest in a winger that actually wants to be here.
Option 2: Loan him out again to clear Harrison’s wages
If Leeds are happy to just shift on the winger by any means necessary and clear his wages from the expanding bill, a loan might suffice.
Leeds have managed just fine with him out on loan at Everton for the last two seasons, and with his contract running until 2028 as mentioned above, he might not have the suitors that he or Leeds deem acceptable.
There is a world where he find the sort of form exhibited under Marcelo Bielsa that makes him a more valuable commodity in 12 months’ time, still with two years on his deal when that summer comes around.
It wouldn’t be ideal in boosting our PSR headroom this season, but might just kick the can down the road for another year and keep Harrison away.
Given Harrison signed his new long-term deal with Leeds whilst in the Premier League, it stands to reason he’ll be on sizeable wages that the club won’t want to carry into next season.
Option 3: Retain Harrison and re-integrate him into the side for next season
For many fans, this shouldn’t be an option, and that’s a very well justified opinion for a few reasons.
(Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images)
Harrison hasn’t been good enough for the Premier League for two successive seasons, isn’t wanted by a bottom-half side despite his stock being so low at his parent club, and isn’t wanted back by the fanbase.
That being said, not many would have expected Max Wöber or Brenden Aaronson to be integrated back into the side, but through hard graft in pre-season and solid showings in the Championship, became more tolerated in West Yorkshire.
There’s a world where Daniel Farke sees value in adding Harrison to his squad, given he’d be the only wide player that is naturally left footed and has multiple seasons of Premier League experience.
Of course, as shown above, Harrison likely still has friends in the Leeds squad despite his exit, and might see fit to rekindle those relationships.