George Overhill

Mon 10 July 2023 13:10, UK

Tyler Adams and Jack Harrison are both “expected in full training in later stages of pre-season” at Leeds United amid “inevitable” transfer interest in the pair, Graham Smyth reports.

The two key Whites players are recovering from injuries, after the USMNT midfielder’s season was ended by hamstring surgery while the English winger is carrying a hip issue, although both have already returned to Thorp Arch.

Harrison is reportedly subject of talks between Leeds United and Everton over an immediate return to the Premier League [Football Transfers, 18 June], while Adams is also a Toffees target but has a long list of top flight sides interested, yet there remains hope in West Yorkshire that both could stay in for the Championship promotion push once they are fully fit.

In the Yorkshire Evening Post on Sunday (9 July) Smyth wrote: “Both Jack Harrison and Tyler Adams have also been back at Thorp Arch but going through their paces individually as they rehab their own respective injuries.

“Harrison has been recovering from a hip problem and Adams suffered a slight set-back with the hamstring that required season-ending surgery.

“The duo are expected back in full training in later stages of pre-season. Leeds harbour hopes of retaining the pair, although transfer interest is almost inevitable prior to the close of the summer window in September.”

Ambitious

If the club do somehow manage to hang onto both Harrison and Adams for a season in the second tier they will have pulled off a major achievement this summer.

After proving to be two of the better performers amid an admittedly dismal Whites season they were immediately two of the names who seemed ripe to be picked off once relegation was confirmed.

But with Daniel Farke’s arrival not made official until last Tuesday (4 July), as Leeds United could no longer wait for EFL takeover ratification with preseason training about to start, it has necessarily pushed back transfer exits.

Some loan departures have now been confirmed following the German’s appointment, with Robin Koch, Diego Llorente and Brenden Aaronson all gone.

Logically Harrison and Adams would be set to follow them once they are fit, but their injuries may have afforded Farke an extended opportunity to get them to reconsider.

Since the manager’s scope for bringing new signings in has been reduced by his belated arrival he could do a lot worse than keeping two of the more effective incumbents at Elland Road.

The three names who have already left won’t come as much of a blow to most Whites supporters but it would be more disappointing to see the two injury-hit stars leave.

If one or both do ultimately move on it won’t be a shock, but for now they are in at the training ground just like Farke and the latest update suggests neither exit is a foregone conclusion.

In other Leeds United news, a Sky Sports journalist has reacted to “insanely exciting” news out of Elland Road.