By Liam Thomas

4th Feb, 2023 | 7:30am

Phil Hay shares Leeds United deadline day antics of Jack Harrison

The Athletic journalist Phil Hay has shared that Jack Harrison didn’t try to force through a Leeds United exit on deadline day last month.

Hay confessed that Harrison did indeed travel down to Leicester on the last day of the transfer window in case a move to the Foxes did materialise last minute.

The journalist alluded to the infamous Peter Odemwingie deadline day fiasco but admitted that Harrison’s case was nothing like that of the Nigerian.

“In no point were Leeds being absolutely unequivocal in saying that he (Harrison) is staying. There were stages at points in deadline day where you thought if he was going he would be going,” said Hay speaking on The Phil Hay Show. (3 February)

“We got wind of the fact on Tuesday night that he was heading to Leicester, but then as the deadline passed and we got into Wednesday and started asking questions and started digging around a bit it became apparent that Harrison had gone, got to Leicesters training ground, they were at the point of getting a medical going on the assumption that he was going to be sold.

“And I think it’s important to say that it was not Harrison’s decision to make that trip, it wasn’t an Odemwingie scenario kind of trying to force his way out, he was really being told that it might be the case that if the deadline becomes very close that Leeds might have to sell you, and if they do, you have to be at Leicester in order to do a medical and photoshoots and all the other things you have to rush through on deadline day.”

True professional.

Sometimes with all the fresh and exciting faces emerging at Elland Road, it’s easy to forget some of the talents that have helped the club in recent years.

Harrison falls into this bracket, mainly because of recent injuries and a dip in form, but the winger was a key component as to why the Whites stayed up last season.

He evidently wants to stay in West Yorkshire and having players in the squad of Harrison’s talents and qualities never goes amiss.

The squad depth at the club is the best it’s been in a long time and having players on the fringe like Harrison is the exact reason behind this.

With luck, Harrison won’t be demanding any outrageous wages, especially if he’s as keen to stay as Hay alludes to.

It’s likely Leicester will come knocking again in the summer and after hearing of Harrison’s true professionalism through this old ordeal he deserves to stay put.

In other Leeds United news, the Whites are now preparing to sign a former Barcelona defender in the summer and have already taken decisive steps towards sealing the deal.