Leeds are preparing to hand Jack Harrison a new contract in order to fend off interest from Newcastle and other suitors.
Having fended off strong interest from Newcastle, Leeds United are planning on opening talks with Jack Harrison over a new contract.(Photo: Getty Images)
The Whites saw two of their key players – Kavin Phillips & Raphinha – leave in the summer with plenty of other interest coming in for first-team players.
Newcastle United pushed hard to sign Harrison in the summer, with two bids rejected for his services, the second over £20million – per The Athletic. Jesse Marsch insisted that Harrison was a key part of their plans and informed the club’s hierarchy not to let him go during the summer.
“I know he loves playing for the club and he and I have a great relationship, and he knows how important I think he is to what we’re doing here in the future,” Marsch said amid Newcastle’s pursuit of the winger.
Harrison, who refused to rule out a move away during the summer window, has started the season in excellent form and Leeds are now looking for him to commit his long-term future to the club.
His contract is set to expire in the summer of 2024, but The Athletic’s Phil Hay has now revealed that the plan for the club is to tie him down to fresh terms.
Leeds set to offer Jack Harrison a new bumper contract.
“The plan was to open talks with him after the window closed and I’d expect that to happen. It has to be done because like you say, if he’s down to 12 months at the end of this season, then Leeds will have to think about selling him, but they’ll be in no position to maximise his value.”
Jack Harrison is into the final two years of his deal and will see his valuation continue to drop if a new contract isn’t agreed. (Photo: Getty Images)
Valued at nearly £50m when Newcastle came calling, the 23-year-old, whose move from Manchester City became permanent last season following three excellent seasons on loan, has less than two years left on his current deal, and he is some way off the wages of the club’s highest earner Rodrigo, but that would change with a new contract.
Leeds are ready to pay him his worth as one of the club’s top players.. (Photo: Getty Images)
Leeds are now hoping to sit down with Harrison and his representatives before January as they know if they don’t they could spend much of the next window batting away interest. Newcastle remain interested, while other Premier League rivals are looking closely at the situation.
Opinion:
We simply have to get him tied to a new contract as soon as possible.
Harrison has already shown his value to this side already with four goal involvements so far this season, and letting his contract wind down would be lunacy.