Everton have considered a move for Leeds United attacker Jack Harrison this summer.
As reported by The Times, there has been significant interest from Everton in Leeds United duo Jack Harrison and Wilfried Gnonto, Ajax’s Brian Brobbey, and Almeria striker El Bilal Toure. However, the latter now looks set to join Serie A side Atalanta, as reported by Fabrizio Romano on Twitter.
Sean Dyche will be desperate for Everton’s summer transfer activity to gather momentum soon. Ashley Young and Arnaut Danjuma have been brought to the club, but they don’t represent enough of an upgrade to revive the Toffees’ ailing fortunes. At 38-years-old, the capture of Young on a free transfer is uninspiring at best. Danjuma, for his part, has failed to greatly impress in either of his two previous stints in this division, with Bournemouth and Spurs.
Harrison would certainly give the Toffees’ greater attacking impetus. The 26-year-old has been a key figure for Leeds in recent seasons. He has made over 200 appearances for the club since his £15 million switch to Elland Road from Manchester City in 2018. However, despite his 5 goals and 7 assists last season, he wasn’t able to save the Yorskhire outfit from relegation to the Championship.
Harrison would be a statement for Everton
Harrison would be a very smart signing for Everton this summer. It would show ambition, and be a move made with some longer-term planning in mind. On paper, Harrison still has his best years ahead of him. The club could make a statement by bringing him to Merseyside. Everton are very much in need of a statement signing, too.
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Everton are an iconic club, with a grand history and an impressive new stadium on the way. Dyche has called Everton a “big club” before, and demanded that the Merseyside outfit act the part accordingly. There needs to be more investment, more ruthlessness with the existing squad, and more ambition shown in the market.
Another season spent scrapping in the mire of a relegation dogfight would be little short of a disaster. The club can’t keep relying on rousing great escapes to save them from the drop and give the Goodison Park faithful something to cheer. Simply staying up shouldn’t constitute success for a club like Everton. Signing Harrison would represent a step in the right direction.
In the name of success on the pitch, and harmony off it, Everton need to get a deal for one of their major transfer targets over the line this summer.