777 Partners must ready permanent Everton move for Jack Harrison as £30m figure emerges
After a difficult couple of years under the ownership of Farhad Moshiri, Everton look set to change all of that with 777 Partners closing in on their takeover.
The American investment firm are confident that their takeover will be approved before the end of 2023, with all required documents submitted to the Financial Conduct Authority, the FA and the Premier League [BBC Sport, 9 November].
Should the takeover be completed as expected, the new Everton owners will have several key decisions to make, including how to approach the January transfer window. But 777 should also be working out a plan to turn Jack Harrison’s loan spell at Goodison Park into a permanent move.
Leeds United are expected to ask for £30million to sell the winger and currently, it appears unlikely that the Toffees have the resources to spend that amount on a single player [Paul Brown, 11 November]. However, under the ownership of 777 Partners that could very quickly change.
If the Miami-based company have the funds to make Harrison’s stay on Merseyside permanent, they should move quickly to prepare a deal to secure his services from Leeds beyond the end of the current campaign.
Against Crystal Palace on Saturday (11 November) the 26-year-old managed to be an incredibly creative force, even though Everton barely had any of the ball. Harrison only had 39 touches of the ball but managed to create two chances [Fotmob].
One of those chances was deemed a big chance and the Englishman picked up the assist for Vitalii Mykolenko’s opener in the opening minutes of the match. The winger is an excellent crosser of the ball from the right wing and at Selhurst Park, finding a teammate with two of his three balls into the area.
In his first six Premier League appearances for Sean Dyche’s side, Harrison has registered four goal involvements, including one goal and three assists. He has added an extra dimension to the Toffees’ attack from the right wing that wasn’t always present last season.
Dyche is beginning to shape this team in his own image and they are beginning to show the characteristics that we expect from the former Burnley manager’s side. Harrison has been a crucial part of that development so far this season.
It would be a huge early mistake by 777 Partners if they were to allow Harrison to return to Elland Road at the end of the season and it would be a decision that could derail the progress made by Dyche.
While a deal doesn’t need to be struck in January and there doesn’t need to be a rush to agree on a deal with Leeds, 777 and Everton must be drawing up a plan to find the required £30 million to get this transfer done.
In other Everton news, Dyche has raved about “terrific” James Garner after his performance against Crystal Palace