Leeds closing in on Man City transfer as Jack Clarke’s Tottenham switch nears completion
LEEDS are thought to be closing in on their first summer signing with Jack Harrison set to return on loan for the season, as fellow winger Jack Clarke gets set to join Tottenham.
Jack Clarke is set to join Spurs imminently (Image: GETTY)
The Whites are keen to strengthen their squad as Marcelo Bielsa looks to go one better than last year, when Leeds long looked set to clinch an automatic promotion spot before slipping into the play-offs and losing to Derby County in the semi-finals.
The Argentine coach handed Leeds a major boost by committing to a contract extension despite last season’s disappointment but wants a number of additions heading into the 2019-20 campaign.
And the Yorkshire Evening Post report that Harrison, who spent last year on loan at Elland Road from Manchester City, is on the verge of a return for another 12 months.
The 22-year-old wide-man will ink a repeat deal after making 42 appearances last season, in which he produced four goals and four assists having been utilised on the right and left sides throughout the campaign.
The England under-21 international’s return to the club is expected to be completed this weekend, with Leeds hopeful of including an option to sign the player on a permanent basis at the end of this second loan.
Last month, Premier League champions Man City were claimed to want as much as £20million to let former New York City attacker Harrison join Leeds on a permanent basis.
Harrison’s re-signing comes as academy product Clarke gets set to join Tottenham in a deal worth an initial £10m, with clauses in the deal potentially taking that fee up higher in the future.
The 18-year-old - who can play on either flank - only broke into Leeds’ senior squad a year ago under Bielsa and made 22 Championship appearances, which brought two goals and two assists.
Jack Clarke will cost Tottenham an initial £10m with add-ons (Image: GETTY)
Jack Harrison is heading back to Elland Road (Image: GETTY)
He has been identified by Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino as a star of the future and the Yorkshire Evening Post claim Leeds could have a sell-on fee included in the move, which will see Clarke pen a five-year contract with the north London club after he completed a medical on Wednesday.
Leeds are also said to have a first option on Clarke if Spurs opt to loan him out at any point, though Bielsa student Pochettino is expected to utilise him immediately.
The Evening Standard report Spurs’ medical tests have been thorough after Clarke complaint of feeling unwell in the dugout as Leeds drew with Middlesbrough in February and had to be carried away on stretcher after being treated by paramedics. He was discharged from hospital within hours, however, despite it being reported he suffered a seizure.
Clarke only made five starts for Leeds last term and Bielsa will hope to inject the funds raised by his departure back into his squad.
The 63-year-old, who has had spells as manager of the Argentina national team, Athletic Bilbao and Marseille - is said to be keen on further additions out wide.
Wolves outcast Helder Costa and Liverpool’s Ryan Kent, who Rangers are desperate to re-sign after he starred at Ibrox last term, are among Bielsa’s targets.
Brighton centre-back Ben White is also believed to be on his wish-list as Leeds look to finally end their 16-year wait for a return to the Premier League.
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Jack Harrison is on the cusp of re-signing with Leeds (Image: GETTY)
Rangers boss Steven Gerrard is desperate to be reunited with Kent after he was named PFA Scotland’s Young Player of the Year last term and has urged the forward to inform Liverpool if he wants to go back to Glasgow.
The 22-year-old has had a £12million price tag slapped on his head by Liverpool if he is to leave the club permanently this summer, having publicly declared he does not want a sixth career loan move next season.
Gerrard said: “It’s a complicated one because he is Liverpool’s player and they aren’t back yet. I’m sure Jurgen [Klopp] will want to see Ryan and where he’s at. We’ll go from there and we’ll respect Liverpool.
“But I can assure the fans we’re doing everything we can to try to get Ryan back. The key thing that people need to understand is that Ryan has got to want this.
“It’s all right the fans wanting him, the staff wanting him, myself wanting him. But it’s Ryan’s decision. He’s got to want Rangers, he has got to want to come and be successful at Ibrox. That is the question Ryan has got to ask himself.
“At the moment, I’ve got to be careful about what I say about him because he’s not our player. We loved having him here and we would love the chance to have him again because we think he can improve at Rangers.
“But the reality is that we have to wait for Ryan to make a decision and Liverpool have to think Rangers is the right place to continue his development.”