George Overhill

Sat 9 July 2022 17:40, UK

Leeds United are braced to receive offers for Jack Harrison as Newcastle weigh up making a bid for the winger, the Daily Mail reports.

The Magpies believe the Englishman would be a more affordable option than Bayer Leverkusen’s Moussa Diaby who has a £60million price tag.

Tottenham have also made enquiries about the 25-year-old this year and the Whites are now expecting bids for him.

Although Luis Sinisterra has arrived at Elland Road from Feyenoord he is slated as a replacement for Raphinha who is due to leave this summer.

The Mail report notes that the club also have PSV’s Cody Gakpo and Wolves’ Adama Traore on their radar at the winger position, and the time may not be right to lose Harrison until another option has been secured.

While his Brazilian teammate is the star of the show, the former Manchester City player is a key United performer, making 71 Premier League appearances since the club returned to the division, scoring 16 top flight goals and assisting nine more.

Ominous

Most people expected Raphinha to go during the window but losing Harrison on top could be a blow as he has holds an important role in the squad.

But it is a summer of great change at Elland Road in the first opportunity for Jesse Marsch to shape the team in his image.

With Marcelo Bielsa now gone and players being brought in to suit the American it is perhaps understandable that certain other members of the squad might see now as the time to move on, as Kalvin Phillips ultimately did.

The club was keen on Gakpo as they sought a replacement for the eventual conclusion of the summer’s main saga, before eventually bringing in Sinisterra.

If they could get back in for him and let Harrison go then perhaps it wouldn’t be such an issue, but the former New York City FC man is a proven performer in this league.

There is already the slight risk that some of the new signings could struggle or take time to adapt, so losing too many of the key players who have plenty of experience at once might be a concern.

If Raphinha ends up going to Barcelona based on the promise of millions down the road there could be a need to balance outgoings right now and this potential sale would be a way to do that.

Eddie Howe clearly likes him and hasn’t moved on so the Whites have another decision to make.

In other Leeds United news, the club have seized control and forced important developments in a major transfer story.