Good Morning. It's Wednesday 5th March, and here are the latest headlines from Elland Road Harrison touted to make MLS move Jack Harrison's name is likely to draw a mixed reaction from Leeds United fans, and that's putting it mildly. The winger, currently on loan at Everton, is remembered at Elland Road, but perhaps not fondly by all. Many fans haven't forgotten his departure to Goodison Park in the Summer of 2023, seeing it as a desertion during the club's relegation battle and subsequent drop to the Championship. Now, having struggled to consistently break into the Everton starting eleven, it seems like he's burnt his bridges not just at Leeds, but potentially in the Premier League too. While a return to Elland Road might have once been whispered as a possibility, especially given Leeds' probable Premier League return, that idea seems increasingly far-fetched. Despite boasting Premier League experience and having previously worn the white shirt, the bad blood between Harrison and the Leeds faithful appears too significant to ignore. It’s a stark contrast to players like Max Wober and Brendan Aaronson, who also left after relegation but seem to have found a path back towards fan forgiveness, or at least less animosity. With Harrison, it feels different, far more personal. Before his move to Leeds, Harrison honed his skills in the MLS with New York City FC. It was a star-studded setup, playing alongside legends like Andrea Pirlo, David Villa, and Frank Lampard. This MLS connection could prove crucial as reports from the Yorkshire Evening Post suggest a return to the league might be on the cards. The YEP indicate that talks have already begun with Harrison's representatives about a potential move across the pond. With three years still remaining on his Leeds contract, any club wanting to acquire him would need to pay a transfer fee. Everton, where he's been on loan, are reportedly unlikely to make his move permanent despite an initial £11 million understanding. Leeds, for their part, would likely be open to a sale, even for a significantly reduced fee from his once-touted £30 million valuation. Recouping around half of that figure would probably be considered a successful outcome for the club. For Harrison, a move to MLS could offer a fresh start and a chance to rediscover his form. For Leeds fans, it would likely be a welcome resolution, finally drawing a line under a chapter that ended on a sour note. While a return to Elland Road might have been considered a fairytale in some corners, the reality is that for Jack Harrison, the bridges to Leeds seem well and truly burnt. please log in to view this image Seagulls CEO was uncomfortable splashing out £40m on Rutter In a recent Interview Seagulls Chief Executive Paul Barber expressed discomfort after spending £40m last Summer to acquire Georginio Rutter from the Whites. While the hefty fee took many by surprise, Rutter has since proven to be a valuable addition to the team, with his impressive performances in the No 10 role endearing him to the club's supporters. With five goals and three assists from 17 starts (1515 minutes of game time) in the Premier League, Rutter has become a crucial player for Brighton this season. However, Barber has emphasized that the club is not comfortable spending at such high levels and prefers to buy players at lower prices to ensure the sustainability of their model. Brighton's strategy of acquiring players for relatively modest fees and then selling them for substantial profits has proven successful in recent seasons. Moises Caicedo, Marc Cucurella, Yves Bissouma, Leo Trossard, and Alexis Mac Allister are just a few examples of players who thrived at Brighton before securing big moves away. This approach has enabled the Seagulls to establish themselves in the top half of the Premier League and continuously invest in their squad. The profits generated have also allowed them to improve facilities at the training ground and the stadium. In fact, last week, the Seagulls published their latest accounts, which showed a £73.3m profit for the 2023-24 season. Chairman Tony Bloom highlighted the significant transfer fees received, including the British transfer record fee from Chelsea for Moises Caicedo and the fee received for Robert Sanchez in the 2023 summer transfer window. Barber acknowledged the risks associated with spending at high levels, stating, "The problem when you are spending at those sorts of levels is that the headroom is far more limited. You need a lot more things to go right. You need those players to flourish for our trading model to work." While Brighton may have felt uncomfortable spending £40m on Rutter, his contributions this season have proven his worth. However, it is clear that the club's preferred approach is to continue buying players at lower prices to ensure long-term success and sustainability. please log in to view this image Dan James too good for the Championship - Prutton Leeds United are flying high at the top of the Championship, and a major catalyst for their success has been the electrifying form of winger Dan James. Alongside Manor Solomon, James has emerged as an absolutely instrumental figure for the Whites this season. Simply put, when these two are firing, Leeds are a force to be reckoned with. The statistics speak volumes. Leeds have embarked on a remarkable 17-game unbeaten run in the Championship, and James has been at the heart of it, directly contributing to a staggering 14 goals during this period. His overall season tally is equally impressive: 10 goals and 9 assists in just 29 appearances. This consistency and impact have made him a nightmare for opposition defences. Even in their recent, slightly less dominant performance against the Baggies, James still found a way to make his mark, providing the assist for Firpo's goal. This consistent influence hasn't gone unnoticed. Former Leeds player and current pundit David Prutton believes James is simply the best in the Championship right now. "Dan has 14 goal involvements in the last 17 games in which Leeds have been unbeaten. "A match winner and game changer, his ability to come out of quiet periods to decide the outcome is a joy for Leeds fans. "The ever-present electric pace has been allied to an increasingly reliable final ball or finish. "He is a huge part of why they’re currently at the summit." With his contract running until the summer of 2026, the pressure is on for Leeds to secure promotion this season. Failure to reach the Premier League will undoubtedly see a host of top-flight clubs vying for his signature. His current form is already surpassing his output from last season, underlining his growth and importance. please log in to view this image
Morning all. No surprise well have lost substantial money on Harisson and suspect it will be a similar story with every one of the rats by the time theyre gone. Brighton is certainly the model to follow in the PL, doing it is another issue. Clearly great talent running that show. On a diferent note, can I take a moment to to congratulate Elland (Matt) on his contribution to this site. I took a ew minutes last night to have a look at a few forums, Celtic, Rangers, Burnley to name but three and the one thing they have in common is little or no posts in three years. Ive no doubt the Leeds forum would be similar without Matts input so well done young man, keep up the great work
Well said...if you look at other forums there is little or no activity, they look more like a western town with tumbleweed rolling along! What with keeping a straight face too prospective customers in his day job and rummaging his craniam for thoughts about Leeds he must sleep like a baby .....#ellrules
Afternoon all Brighton will probably sell Rutter in 2 years time for £80m, good news on Harrison if we do not have to take him back
Brighton guy is right re risks when paying high ticket prices for young talent. I felt the same when we were heavily linked with spending big bucks on de ketelaere, gakpo and cunha we’d likely have lost on one, done ok on one and made a killing on the other.
Rutter wasn’t worth the fee we paid, I was amazed Brighton paid £40m but yes, when you think we were supposedly after Gakpo and Arnie Slot you wonder was it wishful thinking, we’re we ever in the frame, were we just a couple of seasons too late. If Rutter really is worth £40m I’d hate to have to value Tanaka
I think both gakpo and slot have confirmed the enquiries were serious. I’m sure I read some bizarre thing re gakpo where he let god make the decision or something Agree re price paid for rutter by both us and Brighton. If they double their money on him good luck to them
