Leeds United's faith and patience has paid off if transfer asset has trebled in value

Loan after loan after loan. Leeds United played the long game with Jack Harrison and it seems to be paying off based on Premier League perceptions.

Despite being United’s player for one season, Harrison has made as many appearances for the Whites as Mark Viduka and more than the likes of Gaetano Berardi or Jermaine Beckford. The winger is a part of the Elland Road furniture at 25 because of the faith shown in him by Victor Orta and Marcelo Bielsa.

Orta tactfully negotiated with Manchester City in each of the 2018, 2019 and 2020 summers to keep Harrison coming back. Bielsa liked him and City knew their asset was only appreciating in value under the Argentine, so it was always a move the three parties wanted to make happen.

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Those three successive loan spells across the two Championship campaigns under Bielsa, as well as the return to the top flight, feathered the bed for the permanent agreement finally pushed through last summer. If £11m seemed like a bargain for a top-flight forward with 16 attacking returns then, it verges on robbery based on this summer’s rumour mill.

The eight goals and eight assists of year one in the top flight were followed by another eight goals and one assist last season. Those successive returns, as well as Harrison’s immaculate injury record, have pushed the speculation out to talk of £30m-plus to extract him from Elland Road.

Jesse Marsch has acknowledged ongoing transfer interest in Harrison, but reiterated United’s stance on the player’s future in the same breath. He remains in the head coach’s plans and they are planning to count on him from August when the real stuff starts.

Time will tell if