Leeds United winger Jack Harrison will return to the club, and Daniel Farke needs to make a choice on his future.
Jack Harrison was the last Leeds United player to score in the Premier League, but his future at the club remains uncertain this summer.
The former Manchester City wideman will return to the club following a mixed season-long loan with Everton last season. Injuries prevented him from resuming his Premier League form with Leeds, and with financial constraints weighing on the Toffees, they may shift their focus to more troublesome areas during the summer transfer window.
Daniel Farke has already stated that some returning loan players will have to buckle down and play their roles for Leeds coming season, with Brenden Aaronson confirmed to be a member of the team. Should they do the same with Harrison, or is it the moment to cash in on transfer income?
Of course, much depends on who else leaves the club, with Harrison capable of filling any need created by Crysencio Summerville’s departure from Elland Road in the coming months. At 27, Harrison is entering his prime years, so it’s either time to use him or let him go. Here’s what our writers believe should happen to the midfielder this summer.
James Smailes
Jack Harrison is entering his peak years. At 27, the winger should be approaching the prime of his career, which must be on his mind as he considers his choices this summer. To be clear, if Everton comes back with an offer to keep Harrison permanently, he will leap at the chance to stay in the Premier League.
There is no assurance that Everton will make a bid. He is well-liked at Goodison Park despite an injury-plagued season that hindered any genuine effect, but the Toffees have larger problems right now, and Harrison is not a priority. An offer may arrive, but it may also not materialise. The question then becomes, will another Premier League team step in for a player who struggled with injury last season, and will they match Leeds’ loan fee or pay the money required to get him out of the last three years of his contract? I am not convinced they will.
I believe Harrison will stay at Leeds this summer, and considering the likely departure of Crysencio Summerville and the uncertainty surrounding Wilfried Gnonto, Leeds will struggle to find someone of Harrison’s talent within their budget. If he stays healthy, he should rip up the Championship next season, making an effect similar to Summerville.
It could turn out to be the best commercial decision Leeds makes in terms of adding to their roster. Unlike Brenden Aaronson, Harrison has no baggage to carry if he returns, and it’s worth mentioning that he enjoyed his time at Leeds and departed only for Premier League goals.
Stuart Jamieson
Leeds could sell Harrison this summer, but the winger still has a lot to give. Injuries plagued his loan stay at Everton, but if Farke can keep him fit, he might be a great asset at Championship level.
Like Summerville and Rutter last season, his worth will only rise with a solid season that aids Leeds’ promotion bid. He’s a cut above the rest of the division, but convincing him to stay will be vital. He will have alternatives in the top tier, and it is understandable that a permanent move to a Premier League team would be appealing. At 27, he may be unable to afford a season in the second tier.
Harrison feels like he is at a crossroads. Another loan offers little to benefit Leeds, so they should play up the appeal and pitch the potential benefits of a successful season back at Elland Road. It’s a win-win situation for both the club and the player, and if United misses out again, they’ll at least have another player who has enhanced his profile – and worth – for next summer.
Ciaran Kelly
Less than two years ago, Newcastle United made a bid for Jack Harrison that Leeds United CEO Angus Kinnear believed would only cover the forward’s right leg. Would Leeds accept a similar fee now?
Harrison was directly involved in only six goals at Everton last season after being sidelined with a hip injury – half as many as he managed when Leeds were relegated from the Premier League in 2023 – but there is an understandable belief that the 27-year-old could tear it up in the Championship and effectively be a readymade replacement if Leeds lose Wilfried Gnonto in the summer.
On paper, that scenario cannot be disregarded, especially given Harrison’s four-year contract. After all, Brenden Aaronson is being re-integrated into the team.
However, if a deal can be reached with Everton, it appears to be the best option for all parties involved.
