Leeds United will make it very difficult for Newcastle to sign Jack Harrison
It is “very difficult” for Newcastle to sign Leeds United winger Jack Harrison, according to Craig Hope, despite plans to make an approach.
The Daily Mail reporter had reported on his Instagram account last week (14 July) that the Magpies could be set for “serious conversations” within days based on what he had heard at the club, and on Sunday the Northern Echo reported they were ready to make a “formal offer” for the £35million-rated player.
But despite the North-east club’s considerable riches since their Saudi Arabian takeover, they appear to be struggling mightily to add to their attack as planned.
From Austria on Eddie Howe’s club’s preseason tour Hope wrote on Twitter: “Deal for Moussa Diaby remains too expensive for NUFC & Jack Harrison also very difficult because of likely demands of Leeds”.
Following the Whites’ preseason defeat to Aston Villa manager Jesse Marsch said that the 25-year-old was a “big part of his plans”, while the player himself only commented “we’ll see what happens” [both via Yorkshire Evening Post].
Logical
United have shown an ability to bring in reinforcements to mitigate the loss of key players Raphinha and Kalvin Phillips, but they have to put their foot down somewhere.
Harrison is not quite on the same level of the aforementioned pair in terms of importance but he isn’t far off, and to lose both starting wingers in one window would be a big blow.
Luis Sinisterra is a positive addition, and the likes of Inter’s Joaquin Correa are also under consideration [Gazetta dello Sport], but there needs to be some continuity in the squad in case new signings don’t settle immediately.
Therefore it should only be an option for Elland Road chiefs to sell Harrison if Newcastle suddenly decided to offer well over market value.
At this point in the window and the preseason preparations it is more valuable to Marsch to have a proven performer that he knows than it is to have the cash that may or may not lead to a replacement.
Daniel James is still an option, but with his performance in the Villa friendly of the usual inconsistent variety it shows that the manager needs to have more choices rather than fewer.
The club should make it difficult for any Harrison suitors, and with Newcastle unwilling to pay for their top target in Diaby it seems unlikely they would overpay for an alternative.
In other Leeds United news, a late addition to the club’s biggest transfer of the summer could force an extra fee out of the buyer if they break their agreement.