Everton backed for Jack Harrison transfer from Leeds United amid ‘biggest issue’ verdict
Ryan Taylor has backed Jack Harrison as the man to solve the “biggest issue” at Everton if the club can push through a deal with Leeds United.
The attacking output within the Toffees squad was a real weakness last term, especially when Dominic Calvert-Lewin was out, and while Abdoulaye Doucouré came up big down the stretch and both Dwight McNeil and Demarai Gray chipped in with a few the team struggled for goals.
Harrison scored five in the Premier League for the relegated Whites after consecutive campaigns with eight apiece and, amid a report from Football Transfers (18 June) that the two clubs are in talks over a deal for the man with a £16million release clause who is apparently “open” to the move, he has been backed as the answer for Sean Dyche.
Taylor, the Daily Express journalist, told GIVEMESPORT that Harrison would work, saying: “I do think so. If I’m Everton, I want to have more goals in my team. I think that’s been their biggest issue.
“I know they had the 5-1 win at Brighton, which was incredible, but a lot of their wins last season were 1-0 and gritty. They need to be scoring more.
“Under Roberto Martinez, when Everton finished fifth, they were a free-scoring team that used to score threes and fours at Goodison every other week.
“I think the goals need to come back and Harrison is a player that can bring goals to the party from wide areas.”
Push through
Harrison has been a key target for both Newcastle and Leicester in the past year but neither look to be in position to take advantage of his potential availability this summer, for opposite reasons.
It appears that Everton have jumped at the chance and are looking to get a deal done early in the window, so if they can get it over the line it would be a definite boost to Dyche.
With Gray looking set to leave he badly needs more output from wide areas, and while Harrison certainly went through a rough patch during the middle of last season he was a stand out early and late.
With Arnaut Danjuma again surprisingly on the radar after snubbing his January loan to Goodison Park it certainly looks like wingers are part of the plan for the window.
Whether £16m is affordable for the Toffees is possibly the key consideration, unless an agreement can be reached with Leeds to structure such a fee in staggered payments.
Harrison wouldn’t be the answer to all of the club’s struggles on his own, but as one of a few new arrivals he would be useful.
The fact that Everton are apparently after multiple players from Elland Road suggests they sense an opportunity to strengthen at reduced cost, and given the recent record of success in the transfer market that might be sensible.
In other Everton news, a potential replacement for Bill Kenwright as chairman is now in talks with Farhad Moshiri about joining the board at Goodison Park.