Presenter and Leeds United fan Joe Wainman has claimed that due to Jesse Marsch’s preferred formation, Jack Harrison may have to change his position.
Harrison has been a mainstay in the Leeds side this season on the wing, featuring 38 times in all competitions, whilst scoring 10 goals and chipping in with two assists. Despite his contract not being set to expire until 2024, fellow Premier League outfit Newcastle United are reportedly keen to bring him to St James’ Park.
It is known that Leeds boss Marsch has implemented a narrow formation wherever he has managed previously, so it may be that he will bring in players to suit that system at Elland Road in the summer.
With this in mind, Wainman spoke on the Just Joe Football Show and claimed that rather than selling Harrison, the American coach may opt to play him as a narrow winger.
He said: “I think we’re going to play with wide 10s, if you like. I think one of them will be Brenden Aaronson; I think the other one, they’ll leave as Jack Harrison.”
Do you think Harrison will leave Leeds?Yes
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TIF Thoughts on Wainman’s comments…
£13.5m-rated Harrison has been an important player for Leeds this season. In the Premier League, he was the club’s second-top goal contributor with 9 goals, while he made the third-most key passes (1.2) and averaged the second-most dribbles per game (1.5), as per SofaScore.
It could be seen as a gamble to play Harrison out of position in a more narrow role, but he has been vital for Leeds this season in an attacking sense, so Marsch may prefer rather not to let him go to another Premier League side and play him in a slightly different position.
Leeds struggled this season, and only managed to survive relegation on the final day of the season, so Marsch is likely to be keen on changing the shape to something that he knows will work and bring in players to suit the system.