Jack Harrison has joined Everton on a season-long loan from Leeds United, and he might now be reunited with a 2022-23 Elland Road flop who struggled in Yorkshire. Harrison impressed in brief appearances for Everton last season, having joined the club when Leeds were relegated to the Championship at the end of the 2022-23 season via Victor Orta’s relegation loan clause.
Harrison scored seven goals to help Sean Dyche’s team avoid relegation. He was one of two players to have Orta’s loan clause extended for a second season, alongside Marc Roca, but Real Betis has decided to sign the left-footer permanently. Harrison has returned to Goodison Park on loan and may now be reunited with a player who failed at Leeds.
Leeds fans thought they had landed a real coup when Weston McKennie joined on loan from Juventus. He was a long-term friend and old teammate of Tyler Adams and a USA teammate of Brenden Aaronson. According to ESPN, Leeds spent £1.5m to land him on loan and would have to pay a further £35m to make the deal permanent. Fortunately, only the former fee was paid to Juventus as Leeds suffered relegation.
McKennie appeared 20 times for Leeds in the second part of the 2022-23 season, but it’s difficult to recall a game in which he performed well. Indeed, Leeds fans questioned McKennie’s fitness.
Now, McKennie is in talks to join Harrison’s Everton permanently
After a great season at Juventus, in which McKennie reclaimed his spot under Max Allegri, the USA star has entered the final year of his contract, and a return to the Premier League is increasingly plausible. According to the Italian website Tuttosport, Everton has just initiated talks with Juventus about a transfer for McKennie. Juventus is reportedly looking for a sum of between £13 million and £17 million to let McKennie go. Everton have funds to spend and need a new midfielder after selling Belgium star Amadou Onana to Aston Villa for £50 million. McKennie and Harrison may reunite on Merseyside in the coming weeks.
