Yesterday marked the end of the January transfer window, with Leeds doing arguably the best business of all the clubs in the Premier League. One move that fell through was Leeds winger Jack Harrison’s potential switch to league rivals Leicester City, with reports emerging that the winger had turned down the chance to leave Elland Road. However, revealed by Phil Hay, Leeds correspondent with The Athletic, the 26 year old’s exit came closer than Leeds fans thought.
News broke during the day that Jack Harrison would not be leaving Leeds for fellow Premier League strugglers Leicester. However, it has now been revealed that it was not as straightforward as the club or the player merely rejecting the offer from The Foxes.
Hay reveals that the winger had actually completed a medical with Leicester ahead of a potential deadline day switch, which was to pre-empt any potential last minute decision from the Whites to sell him.
In a fashion Leeds are familiar with, it was the club who pulled out of the deal despite permitting Harrison to travel for his medical; reminiscent of the initial Dan James saga between Leeds and Swansea four years ago – though admittedly nowhere near as dramatic or dubious.
It has emerged that Leicester’s offer for Jack Harrison was in the region of £20 – 25 million, which Leeds would have used to finance the pending expenses associated with the transfer of Weston McKennie from Serie A side Juventus.
While it’s a respectable standalone fee, you feel that it is a bit low relative to the Premier League transfer market, considering Harrison has close to 200 appearances for Leeds and has been an important first team player for four and a half years now.
It certainly feels like the right decision keeping Harrison, especially considering that Leicester could very well be a team that Leeds need to outpace in the race away from the relegation zone as the season progresses. Plus, he definitely has the quality to help Jesse Marsch’s side move up the table – hopefully he can build a consistent run of form in the latter half of the campaign.
Were you surprised to hear that Harrison had actually gone through with a medical at Leicester? Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below and on Twitter at @VitalLeeds.