Leeds United nearly sold Jack Harrison to Leicester City for £20 million on the final day of the January transfer window.
It is easy to forget now, but according to The Athletic, Jack Harrison started a medical ahead of a potential move to the King Power Stadium in the hours before the deadline.
It came after an incredibly busy window in which Leeds made three first-team signings. Harrison meanwhile, was enduring a pretty underwhelming run of form that stretched back to September.
Ultimately, Leeds would pull the plug on the move.
And thank goodness they did, as, had that move gone through, the complexion of the relegation battle could have been so, so different.
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Leeds will be grateful after nearly selling Jack Harrison to Leicester
Of course, much has changed at Leeds since Harrison nearly left. Jesse Marsch was soon sacked. And Javi Gracia has come in. Leeds meanwhile, sit 13th in the Premier League table. And you get the feeling that they may now be a couple of victories away from securing safety.
For Leicester however, the situation is much more bleak. The Foxes are only four points behind us. However, they are now second-bottom and they have lost seven of their last eight games in all competitions.
They are also without a manager after Brendan Rodgers’ departure.
Obviously, we cannot get carried away. The win over Wolves before the international break sent us flying up the table. However, by the time we kicked off against Nottingham Forest two games later, we were back in the bottom three. And the relegation zone remains within touching distance.
But Leeds have been so much better under Gracia. And there is real belief that we will get ourselves across the line. Certainly, a win against Crystal Palace this Sunday could be huge.
And Harrison’s form is a key reason why Leeds’ situation is looking a lot brighter. He has three goals and two assists since Gracia’s appointment.
Take those goals out of the team, and we would be in big, big trouble. And that trouble would be compounded if Harrison had gone to Leicester.
Leicester have scored five goals in their current run of eight games without a win. On current form, Harrison could have made a huge difference to their fortunes.
There is still a long way to go, but Harrison is the key reason Leeds are now in a much better position.
It is worrying to think that it could have quite easily been so different.