Leeds United ‘hopeful’ of new contract for attacker as Whites send scouts to watch ‘next Erling Haaland’

Leeds United are set to host Brighton & Hove Albion in the Premier League this weekend and could move up to 15th place if they can snatch all three points. The Seagulls are currently competing for a top-six spot and have lost only one match in the top flight since the turn of the year.

The Whites are targeting their second win since Javi Gracia took over and will see a number of upcoming fixtures as six-pointers, including clashes with Wolves and Nottingham Forest. However, they also face Arsenal and Liverpool in their next six games.

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Jack Harrison contract update

Leeds United are still in negotiations with Jack Harrison over a new contract and remain ‘hopeful’ that a deal can be reached, according to Phil Hay.

The winger will be entering the final 12 months of his contract in the summer and the Whites will need to tie him down to fresh terms if they are to ward off interest elsewhere. Harrison looked very likely to secure a move to Leicester City during the January transfer window, while he has also been heavily linked to Newcastle United.

The 26-year-old has been a regular for United since their promotion from the Championship a few years ago and has netted eight league goals in each of the previous two seasons, however he has so far only managed one this term - coming during their 3-0 win over Chelsea in August. Despite his underwhelming season so far, Harrison remains a target for a number of clubs.

Speaking on The Phil Hay Show, The Athletic journalist said: “What I’m not prepared to do with Harrison is accept that what happened at the end of January had no impact on him at all.

“They’re still talking about a new contract for him. Leeds are still hopeful they can get that done.

“But I don’t think you can disregard the effect of being at another club’s training ground on deadline day, and being in the mindset that you’re about to be sold, even though, as seems perfectly apparent, Harrison didn’t want to go.”

Harrison’s future at Elland Road may depend on which league Leeds are in next season, as they sit above the relegation zone on goal difference.

Whites scout ‘next Haaland’

Leeds United are one of a number of clubs that sent scouts to watch RB Salzburg’s Benjamin Sesko, according to 90min. The Whites were in attendance as the striker - dubbed the ‘next Haaland’ - bagged a hat-trick in their 4-2 win over Rapid Vienna.

Sesko joined Salzburg’s academy in 2019 and went onto make his senior debut less than two years later. He enjoyed a breakthrough season last time out in which he netted eleven goals in all competitions and has looked even better this term, scoring nine goals in the Austrian Bundesliga. The 19-year-old has also shone for his national team since making his debut for Slovenia in May 2021 and has claimed five goals so far, becoming the country’s youngest ever goalscorer during the 2022 World Cup qualifiers.

Sesko’s exceptional form has unsurprisingly attracted attention from some of Europe’s top clubs, with Leeds’ scouts joined by the likes of Manchester United, Tottenham, Inter Milan and West Ham at the Rapid Vienna clash. However, any potential pursuit of Sesko won’t be easy given he is already set to join RB Leipzig this summer.

The two sister clubs confirmed an agreement was in place for the teenager to move to Germany in a £55 million deal in July, though that won’t prevent any interest in snapping him up. Leipzig could still sell Sesko on for profit, however Leeds would have to spend a significant amount to lure him to Elland Road.