Leeds winger Jack Harrison is set to sign a new deal despite nearly signing for Leicester City on Deadline day. Midway through Tuesday afternoon, Leicester and Leeds reached an agreement on a transfer cost of £20 million plus add-ons, and the winger was given the go-ahead to head to the East Midlands to finalize the transaction. Early that evening, he arrived at the Seagrave training facility in Leicester. The Leeds management had a last-minute change of heart and called the 26-year-old to inform him the deal was off. According to what we understand, compared to Harrison’s current Leeds deal, which has 18 months left to run, Leicester’s offer contained a hefty pay increase. Harrison returned to Elland Road after discussions between the player, his agent, and Leeds authorities informed Leicester that he was no longer available.
Leeds is currently working to sign Harrison to a long-term contract, and negotiations have already begun. Harrison, who has 20 appearances this season and scored in the FA Cup victory over Accrington Stanley at the weekend, is reportedly content to stay at Leeds. Brendan Rodgers thinks Leicester future-proofed their team in the January transfer window, despite Harrison’s U-turn. For the first time in five years, the club added permanent players in January when it signed FC Copenhagen’s Victor Kristiansen, Harry Souttar from Stoke, and Tete on loan from Shakhtar.
Ayoze Perez, whose contract with the Foxes was set to expire in the summer, and Marc Albrighton were both permitted to go on loans to West Brom and Real Betis, respectively. The Foxes’ window of opportunity would have been topped by Harrison’s signature, but Rodgers maintained his attitude.
“It was unexpected that the player [Harrison] would be available and that it progressed as far as it went after speaking and meeting with the player,” Brendan Rodgers said about Leeds winger Jack Harrison. “Other than that, it’s something that didn’t happen, and I’m pleased with the three guys we recruited. Although it didn’t exactly happen, it doesn’t change the reality that we had a pretty fantastic window. The team hasn’t added players since January, but there was unquestionably a need for it.”
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