All five of Leeds United’s current loanees appear unlikely to have a long-term future at Elland Road.
Jack Harrison (Everton), Rasmus Kristensen (Eintracht Frankfurt), Darko Gyabi (Plymouth Argyle), Sam Greenwood (Preston North End) and Sonny Perkins (Leyton Orient) are all currently facing uncertainty about how their respective careers could pan out after this season.
It is only really Kristensen at this stage who looks a certainty to leave Leeds permanently, with Frankfurt having reportedly decided they want to trigger his buy-option.
Gyabi has shown glimpses of what he can do at Plymouth, but their Championship future is far from certain and Leeds won’t want to lose too much on the £5 million they paid Manchester City.
Under Paul Heckingbottom, Greenwood is finding some form at PNE, but a permanent deal is yet to be discussed. Perkins, meanwhile, is again having a tough time in League One.
Leeds beginning to ‘worry’ about Jack Harrison
The one from that quintet Leeds are most worried about is Harrison, who is really struggling for form at Goodison Park.
Harrison has not scored since February and is now also almost 12 months without a Premier League assist. Everton fans produced a scathing review of his recent display against Fulham.
There had been some reports Everton could look to make Harrison’s move permanent as early as January, but after their most recent takeover fell through, that has been put on the backburner.
As per BBC Sport and subject to regulatory approval, a new consortium named the The Friedkin Group has since reached an agreement to purchase 94 per cent of Everton, which according to transfer expert Graeme Bailey, could spell the end of Sean Dyche’s term as manager.
Speaking exclusively to LeedsUnited.News, Bailey says the departure of Dyche could in turn end Everton’s plans to buy Harrison permanently, something Leeds were ‘banking’ on the Toffees doing.
He said: “Technically Jack Harrison’s due back and we’ll see what happens. That will be a little bit of a worry for Leeds as I think we know that even if Dyche finishes the season, he won’t be there next season.
“So will whoever comes in at Everton want Harrison? That might be a bit of a concern for Leeds. It’s not that he’s not a good player, but they were looking on banking on that and hoping that Everton were scratching around to make that permanent and bring in another loan signing in January, but it probably doesn’t look like that’s going to happen now.”
Leeds need Harrison upturn in form
While the most cynical of Leeds fans may be enjoying Harrison’s struggles, those inside the club may not be.
The more his form continues to dwindle at Goodison Park, the less likely it is they will make any sort of profit on the £11 million they paid to buy him from Manchester City.
The only saving grace for Leeds is that Harrison’s value is very much protected right now, as he will still have three years left to run on his deal at the end of the season.
Hopefully he can show some kind of form between now and next summer to tempt someone into buying him, even if it’s not Everton.
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