Leeds United still have a number of decisions to make when it comes to the returning loanees this summer.
The Whites have slowly but surely been working through the list of eight first team players who left on loan last summer, with Robin Koch and Luis Sinisterra the only ones to clarify their long-term futures during the season.
Brenden Aaronson then became the next one Leeds made a decision on as Daniel Farke offered the shock road back to redemption at Elland Road.
Max Wober, Rasmus Kristensen and Diego Llorente now face the most uncertain futures, with none of those three having the option to leave on loan again. There is a genuine possibility the first two could follow Aaronson in returning.
Jack Harrison and Marc Roca complete the set, with the former having re-joined Everton on loan for a second time, and the latter set to follow permanently to Real Betis.
Smyth offers update on whether Jack Harrison could return next season
It would be fair to say that when all eight of those players left temporarily last summer, it was met with a fair share of animosity from Leeds supporters.
News of Aaronson’s reintegration into the squad certainly received a mixed reception, but getting it done so early is likely to help him when it comes to his relationship with the fanbase.
The longer the others, such as Wober and Kristensen leave it, the more chance they are going to find next season difficult.
But speaking on the latest episode of the Inside Elland Road Podcast, Yorkshire Evening Post journalist Graham Smyth has shared which one of those players will not be welcome back.
Smyth has suggested that Harrison‘s decision to leave on loan for a second time now almost certainly means he has played his final game for Leeds, even if the Whites do get promoted next season.
He said: “Jack Harrison got his dream move back to Everton, his second loan to Goodison for what they hope is their last season at Goodison before going to the new stadium. I don’t think anyone is surprised and we all knew it was going to happen.
“We didn’t expect him to comeback and play in the Championship. I don’t think anyone expected him to comeback and play for Leeds, but I think this is the final nail in the coffin.
“There might have been a chance for reintegration after one season, depending on a case by case basis like Aaronson. Enough people are going to accept him back there is a chance for him to rewrite the story.
“But I think if you decide twice in a row you are not going to be with Leeds, that says it all really. Even if Leeds went up this season, can you see there being a welcome back for Jack Harrison if he decides he wants to be a Leeds player again?”
Could Harrison join Everton permanently?
Reports regarding his first loan to Goodison Park suggested there was a buyout option worth £20m to sign Harrison.
However, clearly following Leeds’ failure to win promotion, Everton have been quick to take advantage of the fact he had another clause that allowed him to leave temporarily again.
Unlike 12 months ago, Smyth has claimed the deal to take him back to Merseyside does not include a permanent option.
According to Fabrizio Romano, though, there is a chance Everton could still make the deal permanent as soon as this summer, hopefully for more than the £11m Leeds paid Manchester City in 2021.
The transfer insider has suggested there is a ‘concrete possibility’ Everton could strike a permanent agreement in ‘due course’. That is likely to depend on the outcome of their takeover.