Jack Harrison turned down a pay rise from Leeds United to join Everton this summer.
That’s according to Angus Kinnear via Square Ball Podcast, who has claimed that his club made him an offer that would have ‘closed the financial gap’ on the Premier League.
Despite signing a new five-year contract with Leeds United back in April, Harrison decided to move to Goodison Park on a season-long loan last month.
The winger was unable to prevent the Whites’ relegation to the Championship after scoring five goals and providing seven assists in the top flight last season.
Harrison was expected to endure a wage reduction after they returned to the second tier, however Kinnear has claimed that he was made a fresh offer that would see him earn significant pay rise. Despite that, the 26-year-old still preferred to play in the Premier League.
Leeds United really wanted to keep hold of Jack Harrison this summer
Speaking on the Square Ball Podcast, the Leeds United CEO said: ““The majority aren’t regretted losses for the project we want going forwards. Some of them are, we would have loved to have kept Jack Harrison.
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“Harrison and a number of players were made offers that would have closed the financial gap for them, but ultimately they wanted to be in the Premier League.”
It’s unclear how much Harrison would have been paid if he had taken the pay rise at Everton, though it is believed that he was raking in around £60,000 at Elland Road last season.
Harrison joined Tyler Adams and Luis Sinisterra in leaving Leeds to return to the top flight, with Adams making a £20 million move to Bournemouth. Sinisterra also joined the Cherries, but will return to Yorkshire with Harrison next summer.