Leeds United‘s search for a new manager continues to drag on, and whoever is appointed will have a big first decision to make upon taking the job…
Did Jack Harrison nearly leave Leeds?
It was reported by The Athletic following the conclusion of January’s transfer deadline day that the Whites nearly lost Jack Harrison to Leicester City before pulling the plug at the 11th hour.
The Foxes had seemingly agreed on a £20m deal for the 26-year-old, who had even driven to their training ground in pre-empting the mooted transfer. Whilst he was not pushing for a move, he was prepared for one.
The incoming boss, whoever it might be, will now have to decide whether or not to keep Harrison at Elland Road, but his most recent performance might have made that decision slightly easier.
Should Harrison be sold?
Having battled well to earn a point against Manchester United last Wednesday, they faced the Red Devils once again in the return fixture at Elland Road just four days later.
It was expected that Leeds would struggle against a team 14 places above them in the Premier League table, but if their previous encounter was any barometer, there was every reason to believe that they could achieve another unlikely result.
That was not to be, as two late goals saw the Whites slip to yet another defeat, exacerbating their need for a permanent manager.
During Sunday’s clash, Harrison recorded the worst Sofascore rating of any Leeds player with 6.2, offering a wasteful attitude with what little possession they had. Of his 46 touches, he could only muster a 50% pass accuracy, and only two of his eight crosses found a team-mate (via Sofascore).
This culminated in missing one big chance too, which could have been all-important in their battle to avoid relegation.
Yesterday was not his first poor display of the season, as he has admittedly struggled to find any consistency of late in the Premier League. His last goal contribution came at the start of January, and before that the rest of his four goal contributions came in their opening three matches of the campaign.
It seems that, despite that early season form, Harrison has fallen back into the performances which frustrated Michael Dawson last August, as he told Sky Sports’ Soccer Saturday (27 August, 5.49pm): “Jack Harrison, big player for them last week, magnificent. Non-existent today, he really, really was.”
Although rumoured to soon be rewarded with a new contract, perhaps Leeds might want to wait until the summer to see if their next manager can rectify Jesse Marsch’s mistake of keeping him in January and finally cash in on the underperforming 26-year-old.
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