Leeds United have benefitted from the loan system quite a lot over the past few years.
Ben White was one of their most important players last season as he won the club’s Young Player of the Year award and started every single league game as the Whites lifted the Championship league title.
However, the one downside of the loan system is that United are at risk of losing their star players at the end of the season, and in White’s case, they couldn’t conclude a deal to sign him on a permanent basis.
United mustn’t allow a repeat of that situation to happen next summer when Jack Harrison’s third loan spell comes to an end.
Fortunately, it seems unlikely that Leeds will let him slip through their fingers as they have an option to buy him for £10m, but Andrea Radrizzani has to make sure he doesn’t drop the ball on this one.
If any club can mess that up it’s Leeds United, just look at how the Dan James deal fell apart when they thought everything was done and dusted.
The Italian should already have the eight-figure fee set aside and accounted for on the club’s books as he prepares to make Harrison a permanent fixture at Elland Road.
The left-winger has certainly earnt it, he was the club’s top-assister last term, and he looks on track to repeat that feat as his xA is 1.4 higher than any other United player this season.
It’s not just the stats that are impressive, he’s had rave reviews from experts as well, with former Scotland international Alan Hutton raving about him earlier this year:
“He’s been excellent, played against him before as well and I think he’s a really good player.
“It doesn’t surprise me, he’s definitely in that mould of the manager, the hard-working, getting about people, he gives everything, always on the pitch.”
Harrison has been a key man for Bielsa for almost three years now, and the higher-ups at Elland Road have to make sure he remains there beyond next summer.