An update has emerged on Newcastle United and their interest in Leeds' Jack Harrison heading into the summer transfer window...
What's the talk?
According to The Telegraph, PIF are eyeing up a bid for the winger as they look to improve the squad ahead of the 2022/23 campaign.
The report claims that Jesse Marsch's side avoiding relegation may make a deal difficult to complete for the player who arrived at Elland Road from Manchester City for £11m in 2021.
Big Allan Saint-Maximin upgrade
Eddie Howe can land a big upgrade on the French winger this summer as Harrison has the quality to take his position in the team.
Saint-Maximin played out on the left for the majority of the campaign and has the potential to be a match-winner on his day. He ended the season with five goals and five assists in the top-flight, whilst completing an impressive 4.3 dribbles and 1.4 key passes per game.
However, there are question marks over what he offers to the team out of possession. The winger averaged an unimpressive 0.7 tackles and interceptions per game in the Premier League as he failed to win the ball back for his side on a consistent basis.
He also ranks in the 1st percentile in Europe's top five leagues for players in his position when it comes to pressures per 90 with 8.25. This suggests that he is one of the worst players in Europe for closing down opposition players out of possession.
Harrison, meanwhile, ranks in the 80th percentile for pressures with 20.46 per 90. The Leeds man managed 2.2 tackles and interceptions per match in the top-flight and this shows that he would be a big upgrade on Saint-Maximin in terms of what he offers defensively.
Marsch dubbed him as "explosive" and his attacking statistics for Leeds show that he has exploded onto the scene at the top level. In his two Premier League seasons, Harrison has scored 16 goals and provided nine assists from out wide, in comparison to Saint-Maximin's eight goals and nine assists in the same period.
This shows that the English dynamo offers more to the team on and off the ball. He has shown that he has more goal potential than the Frenchman whilst also working his socks off to close down opponents and win possession back off the opposition.
Therefore, Harrison would be a big upgrade on Saint-Maximin this summer and bringing him in could allow PIF to cash in on the ex-Nice man to finance further additions to the squad.