Jack Harrison could return to Everton as Leeds United chairman makes transfer admission

Everton could take Jack Harrison on loan from Leeds United again next season after the Yorkshire club failed to win promotion back into the Premier League.

The 27-year-old made 35 appearances in total for Sean Dyche’s men this season, scoring four goals. He missed the final two fixtures with a hamstring injury but ahead of their last game at Arsenal, Everton announced they would continue dialogue with Leeds over his future when the Yorkshire club’s current Championship play-off campaign was completed. The Whites subsequently lost 1-0 to Southampton in Sunday's final at Wembley to miss out on a Premier League return at the first time of asking.

Now, Leeds chairman Paraag Marathe has confirmed that Harrison – whose deal at Elland Road lasts until 2028 – has a clause in his contract allowing him to be loaned out again. One of the big frustrations for the Whites last summer was the exodus of existing squad members on season-long loans as relegation clauses in player contracts gave some first-team regulars the right to depart after the club went down, provided the club they temporarily joined picked up their salary in full.

READ MORE: Everton stance on Kalvin Phillips transfer, selling Jarrad Branthwaite and 'fire sale' claims

READ MORE: Simon Jordan makes honest Everton and Crystal Palace admission after John Textor takeover move

The exits included Harrison to Everton, Brenden Aaronson to Union Berlin, Marc Roca to Real Betis, Robin Koch to Eintracht Frankfurt and Max Wober to Borussia Monchengladbach. The clauses meant Leeds were powerless to block those exits and in no position to recoup meaningful transfer fees via permanent deals.

The Athletic reports that Harrison is one player with the right to go out on loan again this summer but they have been told that only one other loan clause remains active. Those aside, the club will have significantly more control over outgoing business.

Marathe said: “Fortunately, we don’t have as many of those situations as we had last year. We also aren’t in a race against time.

“At this point last year, we were still 12 days away from finalising the transaction to take over the club.

“The chemistry of the squad is important - which players fit versus which don’t. It was difficult last year having to deal with this and it’s not as difficult any more. We’re not sitting back as the passive club. I’m not willing to concede that there will or won’t be a profit on certain players.”

Everton director of football Kevin Thelwell has made clear that a sustainable football model has to be built on astute trading, in and out of the club, so another loan arrangement for Harrison could potentially be attractive to Everton.