Dean Windass has backed Jack Harrison to sign on with Leeds permanently – assuming Marcelo Bielsa remains at Elland Road next season.
Speaking to FootballFanCast, the ex-Sheffield United and Bradford City ace said:
“That club now determines on the manager,” Windass claimed.
“Jack Harrison has done a fantastic job playing wide left, scoring goals and assisting goals, but everything on Leeds is determined on Bielsa. If he stays, Leeds could be in the top four.
“If Jack Harrison had the chance to stay at Leeds, he would do, but if Leeds keep the manager, then they’re going to be a force to be reckoned with next season. If the manager leaves, the club could be a car crash next season.”
Harrison’s integral role in Bielsa’s high-pressing and intense system cannot be understated.
Compared to similar positional peers in Europe’s top leagues, Harrison is in the top 15% for pressuring moves and the top 10% for tackles per 90 minutes, indicating he is a winger performing his pressing duties to the letter.
With 7 goals and 5 assists for the Whites this season, Harrison has proven to be a valuable creative outlet that has surely justified Leeds moving to retain his services on a permanent basis.
Harrison’s loan deal can be made permanent for a reported fee of just £10 million this season, meaning that Harrison would be costing the club just £1.43 million for every goal he has scored this season alone.
That is without factoring in the current season having not yet ended nor accounting for future goals and assists in seasons to come.
If Bielsa stays on and continues to get the best out of the home-grown star, Leeds will have secured phenomenal value for money.
In other news: Pundit backs UCL and PL-winning ex-Leeds ace to make sensational club return