Leeds United had long been preparing themselves to lose Raphinha this summer. To a lesser extent, Kalvin Phillips' departure also seemed an inevitability before the home grown hero departed for Manchester City with well wishes.
Losing their two best players and two vital cogs in the Whites machine was a blow, but one planned for as the summer recruitment has shown. Losing another in the shape of Jack Harrison is not part of the plan and for all the potential for a strong-arm approach by the world's richest club, Leeds are hopeful the possibility of a Harrison departure can be thwarted.
Whether you call it a misstep or a slip of the tongue, Harrison's remarks in Australia when answering with a curt "we'll see" when asked if he was staying at the club, did little to douse the transfer flames that have sparked into life around him in recent weeks.
