Everton are in talks with Leeds United to sign winger Jack Harrison and the player is “open” to the move as he has family in the North West, Football Transfers reports.
The 26-year-old is available to leave Elland Road after the Whites were relegated on the final day of the season as the Toffees escaped.
He reportedly therefore has a release clause of £16million and Everton are in “ongoing talks” over a deal to sign the Englishman.
Sean Dyche needs new attacking options, with Anthony Gordon sold to Newcastle in the January transfer window, Andros Townsend confirmed as leaving at the end of this deal, and Demarai Gray now a target for Fulham [Sky Sports, 10 June].
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Leeds may have been one of the few sides who had a worse season than Everton in the campaign just gone, but to start and end the year Harrison was one of their stand-outs.
He ended the season with five Premier League goals and seven assists so for the right price could be a valuable addition to Dyche’s squad, after registering 21 top flight strikes and 16 assists so far in his career.
During Newcastle’s push to sign the former Manchester City man last summer the fee demands were exceeding £40million [Telegraph, 22 August].
Harrison was almost sold to Leicester in the January transfer window, but was called back at the last minute when a £20million deal was in the offing and subsequently signed a new five-year deal [The Athletic, 6 April].
While money is hardly going to be plentiful for Dyche this summer, if there is a £16million clause that can capture the wide man it would represent a major discount on what he would have otherwise been available for and surely makes a relative bargain move attractive.
It is a positive that it looks like Everton have taken the initiative and looked to steal in before other top flight clubs do a deal, but if the talks are “ongoing” that suggests the Toffees are looking to reach an agreement for less than the exit-clause.