‘Naive’ Leeds contract decision means ‘no way back’ for Jack Harrison and Luis Sinisterra – journalist
Leeds United made a “naive” decision to include relegation release clauses in players’ contracts and doing so means Jack Harrison and Luis Sinisterra won’t return to the club, according to Joe Wainman.
Speaking to GIVEMESPORT (27 September), the journalist suggested that while Leeds are a big club, the temptation of Premier League football proved too tempting for the duo to reject.
Harrison was loaned to Everton, where he earned his senior debut for the club on Wednesday (27 September) in their 2-1 victory over Aston Villa, while Sinisterra moved to Bournemouth.
Wainman said: “I don’t see a way back as much as I’d like some of them possibly to return, I just think the club will look and say, you bent over backwards.
“I think the club were naive, to be honest in thinking that yeah, we can put these clauses in, but maybe they will want to stay because we’re Leeds United and we’re big. Whereas for me, it doesn’t matter the size of the club.
“If you’re in the Premier League, we’ll go to the Premier League and I think the club were naive in thinking that they would stay. And I think Angus Kinnear admitted that fact. He mentioned why would you go to Everton when they’re in their situation, obviously mentioning Jack Harrison.
“And as I said in terms of Tyler Adams and Luis Sinisterra, he said he wouldn’t have them back because of the way they were that adamant in leaving the football club.
“So they’re the three that I’d like to come back and would have liked to have stayed but I just don’t see a way forward now. But as with the Wilfried Gnonto situation, they might come back and start scoring goals and all will be forgotten. You just never know.”
Shame
While Leeds are flying high in the Championship now, it would be a shame for the Whites to lose such quality players from their squad permanently.
As reported by BBC Sport (6 April), Harrison signed a five-year deal at Elland Road keeping him at the club until 2028, meaning if there is truly “no way back” for the Englishman, then Leeds hold the cards.
The now-Everton man had an excellent senior debut against Aston Villa, so if he continues his good form in the Premier League for the remainder of the season, the Whites could demand a significant fee for the 26-year-old.
Elsewhere, Sinisterra has managed just 17 minutes of top-flight football with the Cherries this season but would be expected to play a bigger role for Andoni Iraola’s side once he’s settled fully into life on the south coast.
Per the Yorkshire Evening Post (2 September), Bournemouth have an option to buy the Colombian “in excess” of £20million, but this will only become active should the Whites secure the all-important promotion.
The future of the loaned-out duo likely depends on the conditions of all the clubs involved. Should Leeds return to the Premier League, then Elland Road looks a much more desired destination for the pair.
In other Leeds United news, a BBC pundit has delivered a verdict on Illan Meslier’s potential Elland Road exit.