Advertisement

Newcastle keen to sign Jack Harrison despite Leeds’ Premier League survival

Jack Harrison of Leeds celebrates scoring his side's second goal during the Premier League match between Brentford and Leeds United at Brentford Community Stadium on May 22, 2022 in Brentford, United Kingdom. - GETTY IMAGES
Jack Harrison of Leeds celebrates scoring his side's second goal during the Premier League match between Brentford and Leeds United at Brentford Community Stadium on May 22, 2022 in Brentford, United Kingdom. - GETTY IMAGES

Newcastle United are interested in signing Leeds United winger Jack Harrison, but fear the Yorkshire club’s survival in the Premier League will make a deal difficult to complete, and are also being encouraged to bid again for Dutch centre back Sven Botman.

The club have long-term interest in Harrison and are likely to make a bid for the 25-year-old who has spent the last four years at Leeds, initially on loan from Manchester City, before signing a permanent £11 million deal last summer.

Harrison has arguably been Leeds’ best player over the course of the season and was once again involved in their match-deciding moments against Brentford, scoring the winning goal that secured safety.

Harrison has scored 10 goals this season and has been consistently one of their more dangerous offensive players. That had caught the attention of Newcastle but their chances of landing the player have been reduced as they will not be able to activate a relegation release clause.

That is unlikely to prevent the Magpies testing Leeds’ resolve to hold on to Harrison and the player’s desire to stay put. Newcastle could well have become a more attractive option for the winger given the takeover by the club’s new Saudi Arabian owners and the team’s progress under manager Eddie Howe.

Newcastle want to sign a central striker and a wide forward in this window, as well as a left back, a centre back and another central midfield player.

Lille centre back Botman continues to be of interest after Newcastle had two bids rejected for the Holland international in January. The 22-year-old had been expected to sign for AC Milan, but it seems that deal has stalled and Newcastle are back in the running to sign one of the best defensive prospects in Europe.

Sven Adriaan BOTMAN (losc) during the Ligue 1 Uber Eats match between Lille and Lyon at Stade Pierre Mauroy on December 12, 2021 in Lille, France. - GETTY IMAGES
Sven Adriaan BOTMAN (losc) during the Ligue 1 Uber Eats match between Lille and Lyon at Stade Pierre Mauroy on December 12, 2021 in Lille, France. - GETTY IMAGES

Given what happened in the winter window, when they were offered similar encouragement, only for Lille to turn their bids down, Newcastle are approaching things cautiously.

The chances of Matt Targett making his loan move permanent have reduced dramatically in the last few days.

The left back has headed back to Aston Villa after a successful spell on Tyneside but Telegraph Sport understands Newcastle want to sign a left back who offers more going forward with Atletico Madrid’s Brazil international Renan Lodi much admired.

The 24-year-old was part of the side that won La Liga in 2021 and is a former team-mate of Newcastle right back Kieran Trippier. The thought of having both full backs in black and white stripes next season is a tantalising one for Howe.

Renan Lodi has won 15 caps for Brazil. - GETTY IMAGES
Renan Lodi has won 15 caps for Brazil. - GETTY IMAGES

The Newcastle hierarchy are already encountering some early issues in their recruitment plans with a number of their top targets - such as England international Kalvin Phillips, RB Leipzig’s Christopher Nkunku and Benfica striker Darwin Nunez - looking beyond their reach. Newcastle are keeping an eye on all three, but believe they are going to have more attractive offers from Champions League clubs.

There is no sense of alarm and Newcastle are merely working through things. A series of recruitment meetings have taken place in the last few weeks with manager Eddie Howe and chief scout Stevel Nickson leading things, supported by co-owners Amanda Staveley and Jamie Reuben. Every deal, though, will need to be signed off by Saudi chairman Yasir Al-Rumayyan, who is provided with regular updates. New director and chief executive of Saudi golf, Majed Al Sorour, is also increasingly involved in the running of the club.

Telegraph Sport has already revealed that Everton’s Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Brentford’s Ivan Toney are seen as viable alternatives to Nunez.

Calvert-Lewin would appear to be Newcastle’s first choice, but they do not know yet whether Everton will let him leave. Reims forward Hugo Ekitike is also a long standing target, although the teenager is seen as one largely for the future, if he does arrive this summer.