Leeds hijack their own player’s transfer ‘mid-medical’ to extend contract and block £20m move
Leeds United ‘changed their minds’ over a deal to sell Jack Harrison to Leicester City during his medical, according to Rob Dorsett.
Harrison was linked with an exit last summer with Newcastle United believed to be heading the queue to sign him.
However, a deal never came to fruition with no club meeting Leeds’ valuation, which was reportedly in the region of £40million.
The 26-year-old has not enjoyed the best of seasons having scored two in 20 appearances for the Whites.
As a result, the Yorkshire outfit were willing to let the player leave in the January transfer window after he entered the final 18 months of his contract.
Leicester were very keen on securing the signing and made a £20m bid.
The Foxes had recently completed the signing of winger Tete, but were not done and bought defender Harry Souttar from Stoke City for around £15m on deadline day.
A deal to finalise the addition of Harrison was less straightforward, it would seem.
Jesse Marsch’s side ‘changed their minds’ when the winger was ‘mid-medical’ and ‘about to complete a £20m move’ to Leicester.
Bizarrely, Leeds effectively hijacked the Foxes’ deal to sign their own player, calling him up to ‘match Leicester’s wage offer’, which Harrison was happy with.
He then packed his bags, cancelled the rest of the medical, and travelled back to Yorkshire.
Speaking prior to Leeds’ FA Cup clash at Accrington Stanley last weekend, head coach Marsch expressed his desire to keep hold of Harrison.
“Listen, all I’ll say is, I really like Jack first as a person. He’s one of the most incredible people I’ve ever coached.
“We like him here. We want to keep him. He’s performing really well. I think getting him fit and healthy has been a big key. He’s got flexibility in the way he plays.”
Phil Hay of The Athletic added that Harrison caught the eye of Leicester a while back.
Harrison has played 186 times for Leeds, scoring 30 and assisting 29 in that time.
He initially joined on loan from Manchester City in July 2018, spending an unprecedented three seasons on loan at Elland Road before a move became permanent for around £10m.
There were some calls for the 26-year-old to be named in the England squad after a run of form in the 2021-22 campaign, though those hopes have very much faded since.
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