Jack Harrison joins Leeds United exodus to sign for Everton despite signing new deal in wake of Leicester City collapse
Everton have signed Jack Harrison on loan as the Leeds United winger becomes the latest to leave thanks to their relegation release clause, according to The Telegraph.
The newspaper’s Mike McGrath reported on the website Sunday (13 August) that despite signing a new five-year contract at Elland Road in April the release clause included in that deal has been triggered by the Toffees and he will now “initially” arrive on Merseyside on loan.
Harrison was on the brink of a move to Leicester City in the January transfer window before it collapsed “dramatically” and he subsequently signed new terms, but was having his medical Sunday to complete the Goodison Park move.
The English winger, 26, joins an ever-growing list of first-team players to have left on loan thanks to relegation clauses, following Max Wober, Robin Koch, Rasmus Kristensen, Brenden Aaronson, Marc Roca and Diego Llorente.
Rodrigo has also been sold and Willy Gnonto is trying to get a move as well, with Everton having had two bids rejected for the Italian so far this summer and still interested in him despite the Whites refusal to sell.
Meanwhile, Harrison’s loan could yet become permanent by the sounds of things.
Crumbling?
The transfer deadline can’t come soon enough in terms of the current squad, with more key men being picked off or seemingly angling for it every day.
Harrison’s exit comes hot on the heels of Gnonto missing two consecutive games as he tries to leave, with Tyler Adams’ proposed move to Chelsea only collapsing at the last and quite possibly still to be picked up by another Premier League side.
Luis Sinisterra was then absent from the squad which lost 1-0 to Birmingham on Saturday (12 August), with the added issue of an injury crisis meaning Daniel Farke could only name six outfield substitutes and two keepers.
The big issue is that with so few options currently, and an obvious need to replace the quality that is fast leaving, Farke needs extra time to bring signings in.
He has so far managed to land Ethan Ampadu from Chelsea, Karl Darlow from Newcastle and a loan deal for Tottenham’s Joe Rodon, but he has a lot more needs still.
Even with signings he thought he could bank on, such as his former Norwich favourite Max Aarons, the German is currently getting hit with further disappointment, as the full-back abandoned an Elland Road move at the last minute for Bournemouth.
The Whites boss is getting it from all angles right now, and while he’s made clear he was aware of the situation when he took the job it feels like anything that could fall in his favour currently isn’t.
In other Leeds United news, there is “genuine interest” from Elland Road in reinforcements from Manchester United.